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Water in Disease and in Health 


BY 

R. LINCOLN GRAHAM, M. D. 

\\ 

NEW YORK 


A COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL GUIDE IN 
THE USE OF WATER, BOTH INTERNALLY 
AND EXTERNALLY, FOR THE PREVENTION 
OF DISEASE AND THE PROMOTION OF HEAL¬ 
THY ACTIVITY OF THE HUMAN SYSTEM. 


Price $3.00 


Bodley and Brooks, Publishers 
Tyrone, Pa. 





T-'AIU 


COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY 
R. LINCOLN GRAHAM, M. D. 



» * 


APR -7 1924 

©C1&778716 

I 


INTRODUCTION 


Sickness and Disease enter into everyone’s life 
and yet the absence of logical knowledge to meet 
disease is almost universal . Because of this ig¬ 
norance, that which is simple becomes grave; that 
which is curable becomes fatal; that which should 
be of little concern becomes of the greatest anxiety. 
In other words, humanity is almost as ignorant 
of the simple facts of Health and Disease as they 
were in the darkest ages. 

This simple Work is inspired by the experience 
in my many years of contact with disease in all 
forms, and the exceptional results I have known 
in the correcting of Disease by the simple uses of 
Water to promote the cooperation of Nature in 
bringing about Health. 

As an individual I can treat but a limited number 
of my fellowmen, but in revealing and explaining 
to them what years of study and experience have 
proved, I am inspired to write this simple work. 

Nature is in itself perfect, but when affected by 
a disease, Nature must be encouraged to meet this 
exceptional condition, and it is by tvorking with 
and helping Nature by natural methods and the 
use of a natural element (water ), that I am striv¬ 
ing to fortify and educate my readers to correct 
Disease and promote Health. 


IV 


Introduction 


Civilized nations are beginning to recognize that 
one of their greatest losses is through the physical 
ailments of 'their citizens. 

The only natural cause of death is, advanced 
age, and we should strive to avoid anything which 
would undermine or deplete the human frame of 
its proper reward, that is, its 4 three score years 
and ten.’ 

This work will be found of splendid suggestive 
value to physicians of any school of medicine, to 
parents in the upbringing of their families, and 
to children in their concern for their parents. 

I was a young enthusiastic Graduate of Medi¬ 
cine, when I was brought face to face, in Dr. 
Guenther’s “Bad Anstaldt,” with the astonishing 
results obtained by this eminent physician. The 
impossible became possible, the helpless became 
vigorous, under the ministrations at this institute 
of healing. Dr. Guenther and myself labored side 
by side in his little institution and I was able to 
absorb much of his profound teachings. This work 
is dedicated to him. 

R. Lincoln Graham, M. D. 


THE HISTORY OF HYDROTHERAPY 
(Cueing by Water) 

The first attempts at scientific Hydrotherapy 
were made by Johann Sigismund Hahn in Silesia, 
at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century. Water 
as a curative agent first gained prominent recog¬ 
nition in the medical world in 1702 when Sir John 
Floyer, a physician of Litchfield, England, wrote 
a treatise entitled “The History of Cold Bathing 
to the Ancient and Modern.” Subsequently, an 
English Medical Authority, Dr. Currie of Liver¬ 
pool, in 1797, wrote a treatise called, “Medical Re¬ 
ports on the Effects of Water, both Warm and 
Cold, as a Remedy in Fevers and Other Diseases.” 
These Works were translated into German and in 
1804 Professor Gertel, of Ansbach, republished 
them and quickened the popular movement toward 
the recognition of water as a therapeutic agent, by 
his unqualified commendation of drinking water 
as a remedy for all diseases. 

Yincenz Priessnitz, however, a farmer of Graef- 
enberg, in Austrian Silesia, is looked upon as the 
real father of modern Hydrotherapy. The fame 
of Priessnitz drew students of all nationalities to 
Graefenberg, as well as patients suffering from 

1 


2 


Water in Disease and in Health 


ailments that resisted the usual forms of medical 
treatment, altho the efforts of the German priest, 
Sebastian Kneipp (1822 - 1897), probably went 
further to popularize the “Water Cure,” as it was 
then known, than all other measures combined. 

The very success in Germany, France and Amer¬ 
ica of the methods taught by Priessnitz and 
Kneipp, resulted in the bitter condemnation of 
Hydrotherapy by the physicians of the older school 
of medicine. But, it is noticeable that even the 
most skeptical of Allopaths gradually adopted 
modified forms of Priessnitz’s methods. The Ger¬ 
mans, Phreninger, Runge, and Brand of Berlin, 
Raljen and Surgensen of Kiel and Liebermeister 
of Basel, between 1860 and 1870 employed the 
cooling bath in Abdominal Typhus, with results 
which were striking enough, even after every de¬ 
duction because of defective classification had been 
made, and led to its introduction in England by 
Dr. Wilson Fox, whose able monograph on the sub¬ 
ject commanded general acceptance. 

In the Franco-German War the cooling bath 
was largely employed in conjunction with quinine; 
and it or the Cold Wet Pack is now recognized as 
invaluable in the treatment of all conditions com¬ 
plicated with high temperature. 

The Cold Wet Pack has of late been much used 
in fevers of all kinds, both in private and hospital 
practice, while the Turkish Bath, introduced about' 
sixty years ago by David Urquhart, on his return 


The History of Hydrotherapy 


3 


from the East, has become a public institution, 
and with the morning tub and general practice of 
water drinking, are noteworthy contributions of 
Hydrotherapy to public health. 

Late in the ’80’s Winternitz of Vienna develop¬ 
ed the theory of treating diseases by the use of the 
nerve reactions from water. Winternitz claimed 
that the nerve effects were both direct and reflex. 
The extent of their influence depended upon the 
temperature of the water and upon the force with 
which it was applied. Friction by rubbing and 
also massage increased the responses to the stim¬ 
ulation. The shower, spray, alternating hot and 
cold bath, with manipulations and massage, held 
precedence over the Cold Pack and the prolonged 
bath. Winternitz practically abandoned the in¬ 
ternal use of water, and depended upon the stim¬ 
ulation produced by the external use to obtain his 
results. 

Guenther, a student of Winternitz, established 
his “Bad Anstaldt” in Berlin in 1890. He follow¬ 
ed most of Winternitz’s theories but confined him¬ 
self largely to the correction of kidney lesions. 

I may claim the honor of having been the first 
to introduce the internal use of water by the 
“Osmotic Treatment.” This was done during my 
association with Guenther in Berlin in the early 
’90’s. 

Baruch, also a student of Winternitz, first intro¬ 
duced Hydrotherapy in America. It was coldly 


4 


Water in Disease and in Health 


received, however, not being understood by Amer¬ 
ican Physicians. But as time went on, it was oc¬ 
casionally practiced by them, and in later years 
it was frequently practiced by Professors Osier, 
Spitzka, Oppenheimer and others, among the most 
eminent internists. 

I have, however, so simplified the use of wate* 
in disease that it may be used in any home and 
without elaborate apparatus. By my technique, 
Hydrotherapy is, of all medical methods, the one 
most certain to yield definite, helpful results, not 
only for the minor ailments but for practically 
every grave condition to which human beings are 
liable. 


CHAPTER I 


The Dangers of Drugs 

The thing that is capable of doing good is often 
equally capable of doing harm. To what extent and 
under what circumstances a drug is capable of do¬ 
ing good or harm, are questions that must ever be 
borne in mind by the drug user or by the physician 
prescribing drugs. When we add up the benefits 
and compare them with the ill-effects, the latter 
will usually outweigh the former. 

Why does a physician so frequently combine his 
remedies in the form of a prescription ? In a vast 
number of cases it is done to offset the undesired 
effect of one drug by the modifying effect of the 
other drugs in the mixture. Why do physicians 
keep records? Simply to help them note the effect 
of their remedies, and to avoid, if possible, un¬ 
desired results from the use of drugs or the scalpel. 

Why is it so very important to keep the dosage 
of drugs down to minimum? Drugs do not affect 
everybody in the same way. For example, some 
people will have a severe itching rash from minute 
doses of Quinine. Others are salivated by a grain 
of Calomel. Some die from moderate inhalations 
of ether or chloroform. Some die from hemor- 


5 


6 Water in Disease and in Health 

rhage of the operation. Some collapse from the 
depressing effects of Coal-tar products. 

Danger!—-danger I—danger! — on every hand. 
From what ? From the very agents that are used 
to escape from danger. Is this danger ever ab¬ 
sent? Practically never. A moderate dose of 
Castor Oil has been known to bring on a marked 
Diarrhea, with cramps and resulting Colitis. Such 
household remedies as Baking Soda have excited 
an acute Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). 
Soda Bicarbonate taken to relieve the distress of 
excessive acidity of the stomach only ultimately 
increases the flow of Hydrochloric Acid in this 
organ. It is well known that most purgatives re¬ 
sult in increased constipation. Stimulants react 
as depressants; depressants react as stimulants. 
Narcotics increase the susceptibility to the very 
pain they are given to deaden. 

The very medicine that checks the disease or 
modifies its severity, retards the processes of con¬ 
valescence. Tonics while they increase the func¬ 
tional activity, are in reality like whipping a tired 
horse; that is, they compel a weakened organism 
to do increased work, which ultimately will further 
weaken the structure of this organ. 

Specific remedies not only destroy the infection, 
but produce depleting action of the structural 
organism. Mercury will destroy the Spirochete of 
Syphilis, but it will inflame the kidneys and the 
Salivary Glands. Antipyrine will check the pro- 


The Dangers of Drugs 


7 


gress and pain of joint Rheumatism but it will 
break down the oxygen of the blood, and reflexly 
prove very depressant to the vital powers. 

Why is it necessary for the physician to observe 
the condition of the patient ? To note the progress 
of the disease? No, rather to note the effects and 
modify the action of the remedies he has prescrib¬ 
ed. The same remedy will not act on the same 
patient in the same way at different stages of the 
disease. 

“Fresh Drugs Used Here.” This sign is fre¬ 
quently seen in the apothecaries’ shops. Why ? 
Do drugs vary in quality as in the degree of their 
freshness? Of course they do. Every text-book 
on therapeutics says emphatically that certain 
drugs must be fresh, or freshly made. If the info-' 
sion of Digitalis, for example, is old enough to 
break down certain of its toxic resins, it will pro¬ 
duce violent nausea and vomiting. 

Many a victim of a sprained joint has been tort¬ 
ured by the painting of the parts with an old Tinc¬ 
ture of Iodine, while a freshly made Tincture 
would have caused little discomfort. Tinctures and 
fluid extracts are largely composed of alcohol, 
which readily evaporates, thus concentrating the 
amount and strength of the drug in the decoction 
and increasing its activity and power. Even the 
druggists are alert to the dangers of the drugs 
they dispense, as the slightest carelessness on their 


8 


Water in Disease and in Health 


part may result in the gravest danger to the person 
taking the medicines they compound. 

Rheumatisms that have been treated by Salicy¬ 
lates, the standard remedy for this disease, quite 
frequently are complicated by grave disturbances 
in the functions of the stomach, from the effect 
of the drugs on this organ. Coal-tar products 
usually produce a depleted hemoglobin of the 
blood. Quinine tends to bring about extreme ner¬ 
vousness or blood tension. Morphia causes mental 
depression. Ammonia salts will deplete the ex¬ 
cretion of Urea, and produce Obesity and Anemia. 
Practically every drug has its objectionable and 
dangerous features. 

Nature always tends to accommodate herself to 
constant conditions. It is the exceptional that up¬ 
sets her equilibrium. The young lad will be deathly 
sick from his first pipe of tobacco, but under con¬ 
stant use of the weed will develop into a human 
smoke-stack, when he may suffer little discomfort. 

The new-born infant not infrequently suffers 
from Coryza, or Cold in the head, from its first 
bath but in a short while will tolerate prolonged 
bathing with no ill effects. Thus from our early 
infancy we become accustomed to water, internally 
and externally, so that the reactions from water 
become practically imperceptible. 

Apart from the fact that we naturally become 
very tolerant to water in its various uses, there is 
the additional fact that water is a normal substance 


The Dangers of Drugs 


9 


found in all the tissues and fluids of the body; 
consequently, its functions are in accord with the 
equilibrium of normal functioning and growth. 
Thus it can be readily seen that water has practic¬ 
ally none of the dangers attributed to drugs, and 
that such slight dangers as are possible are due to 
degrees of heat and cold. Therefore, moderation 
in water temperature insures our freedom from 
dangers. Even the inexperienced, if they are well- 
balanced and careful, may undertake the care of 
the sick with every confidence of bringing about 
no injurious effects. 

In practically every house in the land, at any 
hour, may be found a complete Hydropathic Out¬ 
fit to meet all emergencies. In acute conditions, 
the water bucket or faucet, totvels and a fountain 
syringe are all that is necessary to meet most de¬ 
mands . A blanket and a lamp have often provided 
me with the Cabinet Pack for Chronic Conditions. 
I have never seen a home where I was unable to 
find a sufficient number of bathing accessories to 
meet the emergency, though in my early days, when 
in general practice, I made as many as forty pro¬ 
fessional visits a day, and treated acute and 
chronic conditions in practically every form of 
illness. 

My success in treatment by Hydrotherapy over 
all other forms of treatment more than warrants 
the placing of this simple volume in the hands of 
all classes. My methods are so modified, however, 


10 Water in Disease and in Health 

that the shock of the cold plunge, as advised by „ 
Winternitz and his followers, is eliminated. The 
prostration and exhaustion of the prolonged sweat 
are avoided by merely affording the patient ac¬ 
cess to cool, fresh air during the period of 
sweating. 

Convalescence is not retarded by medicines, nor 
is the vitality of the patient depleted by the means 
used for promoting recovery, when water is the 
curative agent. Typhoids, Pneumonias, Dysenter¬ 
ies and other grave conditions readily become be¬ 
nign and require no long protracted period for con¬ 
valescence under Water Treatment. Nature is 
placed in the best possible condition to meet and 
cure any infection and rallies with vigor to throw 
off the disease. 

The action of water, correctly and scientifically 
used, being physical as well as physiological, bene¬ 
fits the weak quite as readily as the sturdy. This 
is far from true with drugs and medicines, which 
must rely solely upon their physiological proper¬ 
ties and possess no physical therapeutic value. 

The action of water is almost immediate. The 
good effects are often perceived in less than five 
minutes. I have seen the high fever of Pneumonia 
reduced to normal, and delirium disappear in a 
few minutes under proper water “packs”. Medi¬ 
cines, however, may be so powerful that they will 
frequently check the action of water. This must be 
kept constantly in mind; for the taking of medi- 


The Dangers of Drugs 11 

dues often modifies the benefits of Water Treat¬ 
ment. 

Summing up the advantages of water Treatment 
as superior to the use of drugs, I would say, first, 
the action of water is more simple and more easily 
understood and by it we gain direct results that we 
can control, in contrast with the uncertainty of the 
action of drugs, both as to their effect and to their 
remote action. Second, treatment by water is in 
direct accord with Nature’s method to meet the 
exigency of the disease and is cooperative to pro¬ 
mote and hasten recovery, in contrast with med¬ 
icine used antidotal to the disease and capable of 
injuring the physical economy as well as of having 
a beneficial effect upon the actual disease. Third, 
the results from the use of the water treatment are 
immediate and enable Nature to modify the sever¬ 
ity of the disease. 


CHAPTER II 


Water In The Human Body 

Water is a part of the Human Economy. It 
must be borne in mind that the various tissues in 
the body vary in hardness as to to the quantity of 
water which they contain,—vary all the way from 
the secretion of the Salivary Glands, which are 
about ninety-nine and three-tenths per cent, water, 
to the hard structure of the bone, which contains 
less than three per cent, of water. Roughly speak¬ 
ing, the softer the tissue is the greater proportion 
of water it contains, and it has been estimated that 
the average amount of water, per weight, in the 
human body will approach seventy-two per cent. 

However, much more important from the stand¬ 
point of disease is the fact that the fluidity of every 
secretion of every organ in the body is Water. 
Thus it can be readily understood that with a di¬ 
minished amount of water intake, there is a rela¬ 
tively diminished opportunity for active secretion 
of every gland in the body. While again, the ex¬ 
cessive activity of any one organ promotes the 
necessity of increased intake, in order to satisfy 
the demands of other organs within the human 
body. Perhaps this can be better understood by 
referring to the great thirst ever present in ad- 

12 


Water in the Human Body 


13 


vanced conditions of Diabetes, where the kidneys 
are constantly draining the blood of vast quantities 
of water. 

Thus it can be readily recognized that a proper 
supply of water in exceptional conditions is very 
essential to bring about a healthy activity, and 
natural conformity in this activity, between the 
various organs and systems of organs. I would 
cite as an illustration of this—a shock of an Acute 
Infection is always modified very rapidly by the 
liberal supply of water in the blood, such as is 
afforded by the use of the High Colon Irrigation, 
water being very rapidly absorbed in the Ascending 
and in the Transverse Colons. In fact, the uniform 
rule in all acute infections, to use this means of 
treatment will in all cases greatly modify the sever¬ 
ity of the attack and go a great way towards pro¬ 
moting the return to normal health. 

Not alone does water play a very large part in 
the structure of the tissues of the human body, 
but it likewise plays a very large role in the diges¬ 
tion of food and its conversion from food into blood 
and tissue. The Salivary Glands secrete with 
every meal, before, during and following the meal, 
approaching a pint of secretion which is almost 
entirely water. Under the action of the ferment¬ 
ing Ptyalin this water enters into the conversion 
of the starches into sugars and subsequently into 
fat or Glycogen. A rough illustration of how 
rapidly water will attack starch is the simple house- 


14 Water in Disease and in Health 

hold custom of pouring boiling water over dry 
starch, in which not only the entire character of 
the starch is-changed but the bulk is vastly increas¬ 
ed. Thus it can be seen that a great percentage of 
the water reaches the vital fluids as part of the 
sugars and fats. 

Water also enters largely into the formation of 
the excretions of the body. On an average, the 
urine approaches ninety-nine per cent, water, the 
sweat about ninety-six and one-half per cent, water 
and the stool from five to twenty per cent, water. 
Again, respiration requires a very considerable 
supply of water. The humidity of the air after 
being expelled from the lungs will approach from 
two to five per cent, and a fair approximation of 
the amount of water thrown off by the lungs in 
twenty-four hours will exceed a pint. 

In conditions of disease, where Nature is ab¬ 
normally active in combustion of any secretion and 
in tissue changes, it can be readily understood that 
an excess supply of water readily affords Nature 
opportunity to meet this excessive demand, and 
the danger of complications and grave derange¬ 
ments arising from infections or inflammatory 
changes is always greatly modified, and in fact, fre¬ 
quently corrected by supplying to nature this extra 
amount of water necessary to meet the emergency. 
It requires no great stretch of imagination to rec¬ 
ognize that an organ in disease, requiring an ex¬ 
cessive amount of water and not obtaining it would 


Water in the Human Body 


15 


drain water from the unaffected organs and in this 
way complicate them with the original disease. 

There is a law of Physiology which is very 
essential that anyone using water in the cure of 
disease should recognize, that is, 

“The presence of a substance in an organ 
secreted by that organ, promotes its secretion.” 
An illustration of this is that the excessive indul¬ 
gence of water results in the excessive secretion of 
the kidneys and usually the sweat glands, and as 
every gland secretes water as the fluid base of its 
secretion, the outcome of excessive use of water 
always results in a tonic action on the glands of 
secretion. 

Thus it can be readily understood thatprivation 
of water always results in exhaustion of the vital 
forces. One may abstain from solid food for days, 
and with moderate rest experience but little 
fatigue, provided he have a bounteous supply of 
water, but, deprived of water, emaciation and 
fatigue rapidly follow. 

Let us sum up roughly the requirements of water 
in the system. Every secretion and excretion re¬ 
quires water. Every organic action requires water. 
The basis of the lubricants of the joints is water 
and without a liberal supply will soon manifest 
pain. The starches, and the sugars require water 
for their conversion into Glycogen. A fair esti¬ 
mate of the amount of water required for twenty- 


16 


Water in Disease and in Health 


four hours, in the average man or woman, would 
be a minimum of three pints. 

The demand for water is constant, and Nature 
has supplied a reservoir in the Ascending and 
Transverse Colons where this supply may be ob¬ 
tained. Very little water is absorbed in the 
Stomach and Small Intestines. I will go further 
into details of this later on, but it is proper just 
here to emphasize this fact, because the efficiency 
of water in fevers cannot reach its maximum effect 
until the water reaches this part of the Alimentary 
canal. Thus is it that drinking water will require 
from three-quarters of an hour to an hour and a 
half before it serves to reduce the fevers, whereas 
with water thrown directly into the Transverse and 
Ascending Colons the effect in reducing febrile 
changes is far more readily obtained. 

Practically all the water in the human system 
is obtained from drinking and from food. The 
skin does not absorb but minute quantities even 
by prolonged general immersion. In damp weather 
some water is obtained from condensation in the 
upper air chamber and involuntarily swallowed, 
thus accounting, to a mild degree, for the absence 
of thirst during rainy seasons. (The main cause 
is the lack of evaporation of the sweat.) The skin 
glands are more active in the heat than in the cold, 
consequently we require more water in the summer 
than during the winter. 


Water in the Human Body 


17 


Pood supplies a fair amount of water. Veg¬ 
etables will vary from sixty to ninety per cent, of 
their bulk in water content. Proteids, that is, gen¬ 
erally speaking, meats, vary from fifty to eighty 
per cent, with water content. 

Water is a solvent and diluent to the various 
acids and mineral salts found in the body. It 
enters into the formation of the Hydrochloric Acid 
of the stomach. It neutralizes many of the com¬ 
pound vegetable acids, such as butter acid, vinegar 
acid and milk acid. 

Most bacteria are subnormal in activity in an ex¬ 
cess of water. In fact, water in itself is a splendid 
medium for the cultivation of chemical poisons. 
In simple terms, in water most germs will generate 
a poison which will actually destroy the germ it¬ 
self. (We will discuss this in other chapters.) 

The affinity of water for mineral salts is pro¬ 
nounced. We have no less an example of this than 
the vast quantities of mineral salts which we find 
in the sea-water. In fact, the very freshness that 
we experience in drinking water comes from the 
mineral salt content. Distilled or rain-water 
tastes flat. 

As a diluent water assists in carrying off in sus¬ 
pension the Ammonium Salts in the form of Urea, 
Urates and Uric acid. Lime Salts, Magnesium and 
other Mineral Salts are found constantly in the 
Urine, being washed out in suspension by the 
kidneys. 


18 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Water supplies the blood with its fluidity bring¬ 
ing readily to the white corpuscles the various ele¬ 
ments of food for their conversion. It supplies the 
red cells with a certain amount of oxygen. (A 
simple illustration of aerating the water by throw¬ 
ing a fine spray up into the atmosphere, as is done 
at our various water works, demonstrates how 
readily water will absorb and retain oxygen.) 

One of the first manifestations of a lack of water 
is the general pallor and emaciation, due largely 
to deprivation of the blood of its oxygen. In fact 
water in the blood can be looked upon as a reservoir 
of oxygen from which the red cells constantly de¬ 
rive their supply of this vital element. 


CHAPTER III 


Disease 

We have a Complex Mechanism in the Human 
Economy. We have systems that control other 
systems and systems that depend upon others for 
their function. Within these systems are various 
organs and within these various organs are sub¬ 
divisions, etc. 

Every part of the human body, every system 
and organ therein contained, is not in the small¬ 
est degree, entirely independent of the workings 
and cooperation of every other organ and 
system within the physical structure. Thus 
it can be readily seen that the results or manifesta¬ 
tions of disease are frequently and, in fact, usually 
remote from the cause. A simple illustration of 
this might serve to better explain. In Typhoid 
Fever the original infection is in the Glands 
(Peyers) at the end of the Small Intestines and 
the first manifestations of this infection is the per¬ 
sistent sense of full headache. Another illustra¬ 
tion is that Malaria is a disease of the blood and 
the spleen and it very frequently is ushered in, in 
cases of children, by a so-called bilious attack, that 
is, vomiting and fever. 


19 


20 Water in Disease and in Health 

Even in the most common of diseases skilled 
physicians are at a loss to make a positive diagno¬ 
sis of the ailment, because of the commoness of the 
symptoms of so very many different acute infec¬ 
tions. It has been the humiliating experience of 
every physician upon finding a congested condition 
of the lungs to anticipate a case of Pneumonia, only 
to find upon the second or third visit that Measles 
have appeared on the skin, and that the symptoms 
of Pneumonia have disappeared. In fact, I re¬ 
cently met a case where three physicians in con¬ 
sultation diagnosed the case as Appendicitis only 
to find that after they had removed this poor in¬ 
offensive piece of gut, the child broke out in an 
eruption of Measles, and that with the subsiding 
of the Measles all the other symptoms disappeared. 

In using water in disease, the Hydropath has 
the advantage over other schools of healing. In 
other words, he assists in the natural course that 
Nature is following, and in this way does not com¬ 
plicate matters or interfere in any way with the 
efforts of Nature to meet the exceptional condition. 

Perhaps an illustration of this would manifest 
itself. Unquestionably seventy per cent, of our 
so-called Colds are Malarious in origin. Nature 
accompanies them by a tired feeling and a sense of 
thirst. The unpleasantness of the chill prompts 
warmth, and to a very large extent Malaria in its 
early stages is eradicated from the system by the 


Disease 


21 


drinking copiously of hot water, resting in bed 
and obtaining a sweat. On the other hand, the 
custom of meeting this sense of tiredness, head¬ 
ache and exhaustion, with the use of a Coal-tar 
medicine—any one of the fifty-seven varieties— 
while its sedative action on the nervous system 
deadens the manifestations of the infection, in 
reality this very sedative action it has upon the 
efforts of Nature to meet the situation, affords op¬ 
portunity for the disease to become more grave. 
Many a Chronic Invalid owes his condition to the 
indiscriminate use of Coal-tar products. 

The nomenclature of disease is very simple to 
a physician and probably to most of my readers. 
However, I take this opportunity to say that ‘itis’ 
added to the name of an organ simply means in¬ 
flammation of that organ, such as Bronchitis 
means Inflammation of the Bronchial Tubes; 
Pneumonitis—Inflammation of the Lungs; Card¬ 
itis—Inflammation of the Heart, etc. We phy¬ 
sicians have other additional subdivisions, for in¬ 
stance, ‘Endo’ means within or lining, such as 
Endocarditis, means Inflammation of the Lining 
or the inside of the heart. ‘Peri’ means the outer 
or surrounding membrane of an organ, such as 
Pericarditis means Inflammation of the Tissues 
around the Heart. Occasionally we use the word 
‘Para’, which means the tissues in and about the 
outside of an organ. However, there is but little 
difference in the nature and character of inflam- 


22 


Water in Disease and in Health 


matory changes in any of the tissues; they either 
increase or decrease in the amount of blood sup¬ 
ply; either increase or decrease in their funda¬ 
mental activity; either increase or decrease in their 
organic structure; either return to normal con¬ 
ditions, or progress to degenerated changes. In 
other words, anything which is out of normal be¬ 
yond a certain extent is diseased, and in curing 
sickness— we do not create, we simply restore what 
formerly existed . 

In our efforts to restore what formerly existed 
we have fundamentally this splendid basis upon 
which to work, that is, it is natural for the human 
body to be normal and healthy, and the efforts of 
Nature are always in the direction of producing 
normal healthy conditions, so that we have strong 
cooperation in the workings of Nature. 

After being in contact with all conditions of 
disease and health, with the experience of thirty- 
four years of constant study, practice, observation 
and association with my colleagues, I can honestly 
urge everyone of my readers to moderate any pos¬ 
sible prejudice that he or she might have toward 
the cause and production of disease. All persons 
whether they be followers of Lister, who believed 
every sickness comes from a disease germ; or fol¬ 
lowers of the Mayo Brothers, who believe the knife 
and the surgical operation stand out distinctive as 
the remedy par excellence; should not permit their 


Disease 


23 


enthusiasm to blind them to the merits of any cur¬ 
ative measure. 

Basically, Nature cures. Scientifically, we as¬ 
sist Nature to cure. Criticisms in medicine should 
be tolerated with great patience for they are the 
‘‘spurs’’ that urge us on toward better understand¬ 
ing and better reliance upon our ability to help 
Nature. The physician in the past hid his knowl¬ 
edge of medicine, or perhaps his lack of knowledge 
of medicine, behind a professional cloak, and in 
this way not only did he deny to the patient the 
cooperation of his family in the promotion of his 
recovery but likewise denied to himself the obser¬ 
vation and the wisdom that instinctively manifests 
itself about the bedside, in the vast majority of 
cases. 

In their ignorance of the knowledge of the man : 
ifestations of disease the family are very liable 
to become excited and apprehensive. In fact there 
is a very wide spread ignorance in even the sim¬ 
plest matters pertaining to disease, and to a large 
extent this ignorance owes its foundation to the 
failure oil the part of the Medical Profession to 
educate the public. 

This simple Work will do much to put in an un¬ 
derstandable way the real fundamentals of Health 
and Disease. 

It must be kept in mind that the tendency of 
Nature is always to cure, and in the great majority 
of cases the very beginning of the disease is prac- 


24 


Water in Disease and in Health 


tically free from complications so if Nature is 
helped and assisted in the beginning, it will far 
more readily return to normal conditions. 

I have been thru a great many epidemics and 
have indeed felt gratified at the mild character of 
my cases, in contrast with the gravity and even 
fatality of cases t r e a t-e d otherwise by my col¬ 
leagues. 

During the epidemic of the Spanish Influenza 
in New York, I treated over four hundred cases 
of Pneumonia and probably that number of cases 
without pneumonic manifestations. By the simple 
procedure of beginning the treatment with a High 
Colon Irrigation, and advising a glass of water 
drunk every hour, the application of the Local Cold 
Pack in the Pneumonia cases, and abstinence from 
food until the patient requested the same, I had 
the pleasure of having one hundred per cent, re¬ 
coveries. During this time fatalities of this dis¬ 
ease reached as high as twenty per cent. In other 
words, like other physicians, I knew practically 
nothing of this disease or knew of no antidote for 
it, but I merely helped Nature to meet the emerg¬ 
ency and I was successful in every case. 

It is my honest conviction that were the curric- 
lum of the Medical Schools more confined to Hy¬ 
drotherapy, the study of a physician would be les¬ 
sened tenfold. In fact, the watchword of the Hy¬ 
dropath should be — “ Understandable Simplic¬ 
ity.” 


CHAPTER IV 


Nature's Methods of Correcting Disease 

Nature endeavors to correct abnormalities by 
several methods. 

1. By increased Combustion within the blood 
and within the tissues, more especially in the fluids 
of the tissues. 

2. By Elimination, that is throwing off from 
the system the cause. For example, in all eruptive 
diseases, like Measles or Scarlet Fever, Nature en¬ 
deavors to eliminate the poisons by first throwing 
them off by the skin, and subsequently by the Kid¬ 
neys. 

3. Nature generates within the fluids of the 
body Antitoxins or, as physicians usually term it, 
Autogens. These Autogens are usually found in 
the fluid portion of the blood and in the various 
secretions, and they are capable of not only check¬ 
ing the activity of the infection which originates 
them, but are also capable of actually destroying 
germs. In addition these Autogens have a Pro¬ 
phylactic or preventive action. This is the reason 
why people who have had a disease are rarely sub¬ 
jected to a second infection, and if they do become 
infected again, the infection is usually of a very 
benign or slight character. Frequently, the Auto- 

25 


26 


Water in Disease and in Health 


gens of one disease will have an antitoxic effect 
upon other diseases. This is the theory on which 
Vaccination is practiced, that is, Cowpox gener¬ 
ates an Autogen which is destructive to the germ in 
Smallpox. These Autogens, according to some 
very prominent English Medical Authorities, as 
well as a few of the American Medical Authorities, 
are attributed to a chemical change in the water. 

4. Nature endeavors to correct by Degenera¬ 
tion. This latter class is probably least understood 
among the Medical Authorities and is followed in 
various methods. Perhaps the illustration of Tu¬ 
berculosis would better serve to explain. Frequent¬ 
ly, the seat of the Tubercular infection, the tubercle 
or the actual tissue becomes shrunken and hard¬ 
ened, and contains practically very little but de¬ 
posits of lime. By this degeneration the substance 
of the tissue is broken down and re-absorbed, and 
either used to nourish other tissues, or eliminated 
by the organs of elimination. The hardened, cal¬ 
cified remains as a rule then become encysted, that 
is, surrounded by tough tissues and prevented from 
entering into any functional activity with the rest 
of the human system. A very well known illustra¬ 
tion of this is the formation of the Corn. The 
underskin becomes inflamed and the process of in¬ 
flammation subsides leaving a deposit of lime salts, 
which is in reality the Corn. 


Nature’s Methods of Correcting Disease 27 

COMBUSTION 

The technical term for increased Combustion or 
increased tissue activity, is increased oxidation or 
Fever. In other words, Nature reacts to any ab¬ 
normality such as excessive exposure, infection or 
trauma, (Blow) and by increasing the activity of 
the tissues hastens the return to the normal as well 
as builds up the results of the abnormal. The ram¬ 
ifications of the benefits of this are many. The 
first shock of a disease, a blow, or an infection, is 
to lessen the vitality. The increased Combustion 
promotes a return beyond normal activity. In¬ 
creased Combustion serves to hold many of the 
infections in check. A germ that will be active 
in a temperature of one hundred will be less active 
in a temperature of one hundred and five. In other 
words, fever should not be looked upon as a dan¬ 
gerous condition, rather the opposite. Fever in 
itself largely demonstrates the ability of Nature 
to react to the shock of an injury, infection or 
disease, and I wish to go on Record as saying, that 
physicians striving to reduce fever by means of 
depressing Coal-tar products are under-mining 
Nature’s best efforts to promote the return to nor¬ 
mal health. On the other hand, fever, if given full 
opportunity to exert its best benefit, is usually of 
very short duration, even in the most virulent of 
fevers such as Typhus or Typhoid Fever. In other 
words, fever is the reaction, not the cause, and 


28 Water in Disease and in Health 

should be treated in a manner which will cooperate 
with Nature to make its results more efficient and 
its duration most limited. The illustration of 
Pneumonia is probably the most common and 
most emphatic in the category of disease, in 
this respect. Not infrequently a chill from the 
depression of a shock of this grave disease will 
last from one to five hours, followed by a temper¬ 
ature of from 104 to 106 with delirium. It is a 
well recognized fact that in former years it re¬ 
quired nine days before the crisis of Pneumonia 
passed, that is, before the fever attempted to re¬ 
duce to normal, yet after treating many hundreds 
of Pneumonia cases by use of Water, I have yet to 
meet one that will not respond to normal tempera¬ 
ture within one-half hour after the proper use of 
the water; in that, I afford Nature opportunity to 
react, and do not interfere with Nature by using 
drugs. My treatments of Pneumonia vary little 
from the treatment of any acute fever accompan¬ 
ied with inflammatory changes of any internal 
organ. (This treatment will be discussed in future 
chapters.) 


ELIMINATION 

Elimination must be carried out by one or more 
of the organs of elimination, which, roughly speak¬ 
ing, are the Stomach, the Bowels, the Skin, the 
Kidneys and the Lungs. 


Nature’s Methods of Correcting Disease 29 

In all eruptive diseases such as Measles, Scarlet 
Fever, Smallpox, Chickenpox or Syphilis, Nature 
attempts to throw off the infection thru the skin, 
and in so far as we cooperate with Nature we are 
working in the proper channels of elimination. 
These are the cases when the sweat is indicated. 

Acute infection of the Stomach, such as Whoop¬ 
ing Cough finds the Stomach, or vomit the means 
of elimination. 

The Bowel enters into practically every disease, 
either as the main or the associate organ of elim¬ 
ination. However, certain diseases are more pro¬ 
nounced than others in this respect. Asiatic Chol¬ 
era, Dysentery, Typhus or Typhoid Fever, are 
classed among those more particularly depending 
upon the Bowel for elimination. 

The Kidney can be rightly classed as an associ¬ 
ate organ of elimination. In practically every dis¬ 
ease it enters into the throwing off of the infection. 
However, it is always advisable to relieve this 
organ from as much of this work as is possible, be¬ 
cause of the proneness with which these poisons 
are apt to cause degeneration within the actual 
structure of the Kidney itself. Thus is it very im¬ 
perative in all eruptive diseases that the Skin be 
called upon to mainly function the elimination. 
Also, in Typhus, Typhoid Fever and Pneumonia, 
the Bowel should be used as the main organ of 
elimination. 


30 


Water in Disease and in Health 


The lungs are very important organs of elim¬ 
ination and this importance is rarely recognized, 
either by the Medical Profession of any School or 
by the Laity. In all diseases we have either an 
excess or a subnormal combustion, and it is very 
imperative that the gases generated in the blood 
should have opportunity to be eliminated. Much 
of this elimination can not be arrived at unless 
these gases have opportunity to meet their chem¬ 
ical affinity in the air. Therefore, it is absolutely 
necessary in all conditions of disease, whether of 
acute or chronic variety, that the blood, by the 
means of respiration, has an unobstructed access 
to the free oxygen and the free nitrogen of the air. 
The lungs also throw off much of the degenerated 
processes locally in the air passages by means of ex¬ 
pectoration. The characteristic expectorations of 
Pneumonia, Pulmonitis and Bronchitis are fa¬ 
miliar to all of us. 


AUTOGENS 

There are many organic chemical changes which 
cannot be demonstrated in the laboratory, yet we 
obtain the clinical results within the active live 
animal tissues. The whole theory of Antitoxin is 
based upon the development within the horse, the 
cow or the sheep, or rather in the fluid portion of 
the blood of these animals, of a substance which is 
antagonistic to the germ of infection. The so-call¬ 
ed Antitoxins on the market are nothing other than 


Nature’s Methods of Correcting Disease 31 

the fluid portion of the blood of animals that have 
been infected by that peculiar disease. The Diph¬ 
theritic Antitoxin in substance, is the fluid portion 
of the blood of the horse or cow infected by Diph¬ 
theria. On the other hand, the vaccine differs in 
that it is the Antitoxin of one disease capable of 
having an Antitoxic effect upon another disease. 
In other words, vaccine is the Antitoxin of Oowpox 
which has proven capable of modifying the effects 
of the infection of Smallpox. Recent experiments 
show that not only does vaccine lessen the effects 
of Smallpox but it has a somewhat similar action 
on Diphtheria, Typhoid Fever, Pneumonia and 
Cholera. 

In treating by water, certain physiological ef¬ 
fects must be kept in mind. In other words, an in¬ 
creased amount of water in the blood stimulates an 
increased activity of the blood and incidentally the 
various organs that both secrete and excrete water. 
Consequently, we have as the result of this in¬ 
creased activity an increased generation or devel¬ 
opment of the Antitoxin or Autogens within the 
body. 

As I have said in previous chapters, the Ascend¬ 
ing and Transverse Colons are the natural res¬ 
ervoirs of the human body, and from these organs 
water, more readily than otherwise, reaches the 
vital fluids. It can be readily seen that in all in¬ 
fections of every variety the initial step should be 
the High Colon Irrigation. It can be recog- 


32 


Water in Disease and in Health 


nized that the blood of a sheep, a cow or a horse is 
a foreign body and does not quickly accommo¬ 
date itself to the normal contents of the blood, and 
is even capable in itself of developing toxic results, 
and has, to a more or less degree, a depleting effect 
upon the system. Whereas, the individual, gen¬ 
erating his own Antitoxin, has none of these men¬ 
aces. 

It cannot be stated definitely whether this Anti¬ 
toxin is a chemical or a physiological body. Ex¬ 
periments rather favor the theory of a Chemical 
Antitoxin. Dalton of London, Bussell of New 
York, and others including myself, in such violent 
infections as Gonorrhea, have simply exposed the 
discharge to sterile water, and by filtrating thru a 
Bergfeld Filter, eliminated the infection, and by 
hypodermically injecting the water, were able, in 
a number of cases, to destroy the infection and cor¬ 
rect the disease. 

Physicians, enthusiastic for this means of treat¬ 
ment claim additional benefits, that is, that there 
is never an unmixed infection. In other words, 
we never find an infection where the germ is not 
accompanied by a germ of another character and 
as a consequence the antitoxin thus generated in 
the sterile water is a mixed Antitoxin, and is ben¬ 
eficial in correcting the mixed infection. There is 
no better medium of germ cultivation, and cultiv¬ 
ation of the Antitoxin to any infection, than the 
individual thus infected. Therefore, the logical 


Nature’s Methods of Correcting Disease 33 

and best method of obtaining the proper Autogens 
in the body is to promote the rapid absorption and 
the rapid elimination of water in the body. 

In my early years of practice I was uniformly 
successful in treating Diptheria in this way. Chil¬ 
dren under two years of age I subjected to a High 
Colon Irrigation accompanied by a sweat to pro¬ 
mote the absorption of the water; drinking cop¬ 
iously out of the nursing bottle or otherwise of 
water. It was not infrequent to find the membrane 
within the throat entirely dissolved within twenty- 
four hours after beginning the treatment. Doctor 
Guenther and myself experimented in twenty-eight 
cases of Diphtheria with one hundred per cent, 
recoveries, no after effects, and no Kidney in¬ 
volvement. In order to insure a rapid absorption 
of the water, it is very necessary that a certain 
degree of warmth be maintained in the body. Con¬ 
sequently in all severe infections, the patient should 
stay covered in bed to promote activity of the skin. 

DEGENERATION 

Degeneration can occur in mass when it is called 
Gangrene. It can be cellular when it is called Sup¬ 
puration. It can be Calcareous when it becomes 
hard and lime-like. We will take up the discus¬ 
sion of these in future chapters where they will be 
elaborated upon. 

The action of the air in the lungs, to a modified 
extent, is similar to that of spraying the water into 


34 


Water in Disease and in Health 


the atmosphere. In fact, water acts as a general 
reserve for many elements necessary, and the dan¬ 
gers of undermining the natural vitality, by a de¬ 
pleted quantity of water in the system, are always 
constant. As a general rule most people drink less 
water than is advisable. (The various methods of 
drinking water to obtain their definite objects will 
be detailed in future chapters.) For instance, wa¬ 
ter must be drunk for food, also for diuretic pur¬ 
poses ; as a laxative; for its osmotic action, and for 
its promotion of the generation of antitoxins with¬ 
in the body. (These purposes will be more elabor¬ 
ately described in connection with the particular 
diseases.) 

Apart from the osmotic action, the diuretic ac¬ 
tion, and the promotion of the developments of 
Autogens, in disease, an excess of water in the blood 
enables this fluid to absorb and retain oxygen in 
excess. Oxygen is absolutely necessary in the com¬ 
bustion of tissues, and is especially useful in low 
grade fevers to promote sufficient tissue changes. 
Tubercular patients should be encouraged to drink 
freely of water—a very considerable amount of 
water and a very great deal of the benefit 
obtained from drinking excessive quantities of 
milk, as is practiced in Saranac and other Tuber¬ 
cular Sanitariums, is directly due to the increased 
quantity of water obtained from the milk. Ob¬ 
servation of the blood in these case will reveal an 
increased amount of Hemoglobin (iron and oxy 


Nature’s Methods of Correcting Disease 35 

gen) after a short period of excessive use of milk 
or water. 

It must be kept in mind that while oxygen is a 
chemical element of water, yet water is capable of 
securing and retaining free molecules of oxygen 
among its own molecules and in this way, oxygen, 
to a large extent, is absorbed by the blood. In fact, 
it has been estimated, that sixty-two per cent, of 
the bulk of the blood is gases, of which oxygen, 
either free or combined with carbon, constitutes 
almost ninety per cent. The marked emaciation 
and pallor that rapidly follows deprivation of wa¬ 
ter indicates somewhat the importance of water in 
the blood. In disease, where there is actual de¬ 
rangement in the blood itself, and not infrequently 
are the germs of disease actually found in the 
blood stream, combustion is very essential, and this 
combustion is most efficiently promoted by liberal 
injection of water. In fact, it should be the routine 
practice, of every physician, in all fevers to flood 
the Ascending and the Transverse Colons in order 
to be assured that this human reservoir is copious¬ 
ly supplied with this vital fluid. 


CHAPTER \ 


Physical Facts Concerning The Human Body 

Apart from the workings and functions of 
the various systems and organs of the Human 
Frame, the body possesses certain physical facts 
which are of the greatest importance in the treat¬ 
ment of disease and in the maintenance of health. 

Prominent among these physical properties is 
the fact, that the body receives cold and radiates 
heat. Heat, up to a certain degree is essential for 
tissue activity. Below a certain degree cold will 
check tissue activity, and above a certain degree 
will entirely destroy the tissue. Therefore, in 
order to maintain a fairly good normal activity in 
the tissues of the body, a certain degree of temper¬ 
ature must be maintained. The usual temperature 
considered as normal is 981/2° Fhr. in the armpit, 
99° Fhr. under the tongue, and 100 to IOOV 2 0 Ehr. 
in the rectum. The blood temperature, of course, 
is relatively higher and has been approximated at 
about 103° Fhr. normal. This is also the usual 
temperature of the urine. 

Nature is greatly assisted in maintaining bodily 
heat in a cold atmosphere by the condensed air con¬ 
taining a relatively larger amount of oxygen, the 
increased oxygen affording increased combustion 

36 


Physical Facts Concerning the Human Body 37 

of the tissues. This explains the sense of exhil¬ 
aration upon going into a cold atmosphere and the 
sense of exhaustion or lassitude upon entering a 
heated room after exercise in the cold. The same 
condition is true in a hot atmosphere, the rarefied 
air, affording a diminished amount of oxygen, 
checks combustion and prompts a sense of lassi¬ 
tude. In conditions of increased perspiration the 
cooling processes of evaporation are increased. Re¬ 
cent experiments show that the human body has a 
decided magnetic power. This has been demon¬ 
strated recently, by a French Scientist. However, 
the therapeutic value of this fact has not as yet 
been arrived at. 

The maintenance of bodily heat is of more im¬ 
portance in the advanced ages. After maturity 
the processes of the tissue changes are on a decline, 
and as a consequence tissue combustion is progres¬ 
sively retarded. The aged must be protected against 
too great a deviation from the normal tempera¬ 
ture. This is equally true of the heat as of the 
cold. The aged should avoid strenuous exercise 
and excessive heat, and afford opportunity for fair¬ 
ly rapid evaporation by wearing light clothing dur¬ 
ing the heat, as well as avoidance of exposure to 
cold by the use of woolens during the severer 
months of the year. 

The diffusibility of gases plays a very import¬ 
ant role in the physical and chemical changes with¬ 
in the body. The contents of the blood have been 


38 


Water in Disease and in Health 


variously estimated as being gases up to about 
sixty per cent, of its bulk. In the process of com¬ 
bustion, the blood and the various secretions are 
deprived of free oxygen, and there is an excess of 
unsatisfied gases of which Carbon - dioxide and 
monoxide is prominent. In the lungs the excess 
of unsatisfied gases is brought in contact with the 
oxygen and nitrogen of the air, and most of these 
gases are readily combined with the two gases of 
the atmosphere. The increased amount of oxygen 
gives the arterial blood coming from the lungs its 
bright color, in contrast with the darker color of 
the venous blood before it has been exposed to the 
air in the lungs. While the changes are chemical 
the basis of this chemical change is physical and 
its effects are physiological. 

Another element of the Human body is tha 
Osmosis of its Fluids. This Osmosis is very im¬ 
portant in the treatment of disease, and I confess 
it is the basis of many of my theories of Thera¬ 
peutic Measures. The Law of Osmosis is: 
“When two fluids of different density or 
weight, are separated from each other by 
an animal membrane, there is a movement 
from the heavier to the lighter and from the 
lighter to the heavier to equalize their den¬ 
sity or weight. The Osmotic pressure of 
the heavier being more than that of the 
lighter, the greater pressure is from the 
heavier to the lighter.’’ 


Physical Facts Concerning the Human Body 39 

This Law has been commonly demonstrated by 
the simple procedure of filling two jars with water, 
one containing sugar and the other nothing but 
distilled water. These are separated from each 
other by a toughened animal membrane, such as 
we find on the head of a drum, and while this 
membrane is practically waterproof, yet after ex¬ 
posure for several days, examination of both fluids 
will show them to be identical in character, both 
containing the same proportion of sugar and hav¬ 
ing the same specific gravity. This Law of Osmos¬ 
is is not exclusive to animal life. Plants obtain 
their moisture from the ground thru Osmosis and 
throw off much of their waste in the same process. 
However, it can be readily understood that a live 
soft membrane will much more readily afford an 
active Osmosis than will the tough membrane de¬ 
scribed in the laboratory test. This Law of Osmosis 
cannot be too greatly emphasized. Food, being 
heavier than the blood, gains its admission into 
the bloodstream and into the lymphatics, to a large 
extent, thru the Law of Osmosis. Again, waste 
materials from the blood find their entrance into 
the stomach and intestines by the very same proc¬ 
esses, when the stomach and intestines are empty 
or contain a lighter fluid than the blood. Thus it 
can be seen that the drinking of large quantities 
of water in the early morning on rising, by Osmos¬ 
is of the blood to the water in the stomach, affords 


40 Water in Disease and in Health 

excellent drainage of the waste material of the 
blood into the Alimentary Canal. 

It has been extremely interesting to me to watch 
the habits of the domestic animals, when afforded 
the opportunity to follow their natural instincts in 
the field. Almost without exception, the horse or 
the cow upon arising will stroll to a neighboring 
stream and drink freely of the water before be¬ 
ginning to nibble on the grass. The custom of 
early morning drinking of water should be un¬ 
iversally followed. The Osmotic action of water 
in the Alimentary Canal is one that affords great 
therapeutic value. The time and occasion of drink¬ 
ing this water depending entirely upon the object 
we wish to obtain, and in other chapters, when 
I speak of the various diseases, I will attempt to 
specify the time advisable to drink water in order 
to obtain the best therapeutic results. 

The question has often arisen, whether or not 
actual structural contents can be transfused or 
seeped thru the animal membrane. I have never 
had opportunity to examine the fluids sufficiently 
to warrant my positive statement that such is a 
fact. However, as in the case of a woman washing 
clothes, where the skin assumes a whitened shriv¬ 
elled appearance; it is my conviction that not only 
the red but also the white corpuscles are carried 
from the skin of the hands into the water in the 
washtub. However, it is more than probable that 
the actual structure of both the white and the red 


Physical Facts Concerning the Human Body 41 

cells are either so modified or destroyed that the 
microscope would merely reveal them in the shape 
of Granula Detritus. 

It is not uncommon for the woman described to 
receive a superficial laceration of the skin and 
have no hemorrhage until the hands are dry, and 
the circulation affords a fair degree of blood to 
the skin. I am asking my readers to dwell a little 
upon this picture of the appearance of the hands 
of the woman washing clothes, to somewhat por¬ 
tray the extent that Osmosis will drain the blood 
from a part. It must be borne in mind, that the 
skin is a fairly compact thickened membrane in 
strong contrast with the loose thin mucous mem¬ 
brane that lines the stomach. With this picture 
in mind, the benefits of Osmosis in treating local 
affections of the Digestive Canal, such as Ulcers 
of the Stomach or Ulcers of the Duodenum, or in 
Typhoid Fever which in reality is an ulceration 
of the Glands (Peyers) at the end of the Small 
Intestine, can be somewhat understood. Its im¬ 
portance in inflammatory changes of the milder 
character, such as Catarrh of the Stomach or Duod¬ 
enum, or Colitis, can be readily appreciated. 

Keeping in mind the picture of the woman wash¬ 
ing clothes, and the white shrivelled appearance 
of her hands demonstrating the absence of blood, 
it can be readily seen that the congested blood ves¬ 
sels in and about the affected parts, if exposed di¬ 
rectly to the Osmotic action of water will seep into 


42 Water in Disease and in Health 

the water and relieve the congestion. With the 
draining of the blood the contraction of the blood 
vessels is permitted, and opportunity for normal 
circulation is promoted. 

In Eczemas and Elephantiasis the superficial 
layers of skin are softened thru degeneration, pro¬ 
moted by relieving the congestion, and a return 
to the normal healthy tissues is begun. 

It must be borne in mind that with the absence 
of blood in a part, the activity of an infecting 
germ is checked, and not infrequently the germ 
itself destroyed. 

By this method we drain off the suboxidized 
blood and afford opportunity for the oxidized blood 
to reach the part, permitting increased combustion 
which in itself is destructive to the infection. 

Osmotic Treatment is a discovery of my own. 
In all of my investigations I have never been able 
to find any Hydropath, even among the early Ro¬ 
mans, or the German School, who have even hinted 
at this means of treatment, and yet it is beyond 
doubt the most efficient means of correcting all 
alimentary and all skin lesions. Eczemas that have 
for years resisted all forms of medication have 
promptly responded to Osmotic Treatment. I have 
seen, even in advanced conditions of Elephantiasis 
(skin like an elephant) splendid results from its 
use, when persisted in. In Varicose Ulcers of the 
legs it is a remedy without rival, but the exposure 
to the water in these advanced cases must be con- 


Physical Facts Concerning the Human Body 43 

tinuous and prolonged. In cases of Elephantiasis 
the exposure should be at least ten hours out of the 
twenty-four; and one hour exposure in the morn¬ 
ing in severe cases of Varicose Ulcers is usually 
necessary. In substance, the patient simply lies 
in a tub of bland water during this period. 


CHAPTER VI 


Physiological Functions 

Generally speaking, all organs and all tissues 
consist of cells united by fibers which are termed 
inter-cellular substance. These cells are all char¬ 
acteristic of the organ or tissue, although they have 
certain characteristics that are common to all. 
They are differently shaped in different kinds of 
tissue, are encased in a membrane called the lining 
membrane, and contain an active nucleus. Fre¬ 
quently a cell will contain more than one nucleus. 
The cells vary in diameter from one, thirty-one 
hundredth to one, twenty-five hundredth of an inch, 
and are rarely larger. The active part of the cell 
is the nucleus, from which all cellular increase is 
derived. 

The functions of all cell life are to absorb nour¬ 
ishment, eliminate waste, and to furnish material 
for growth. The secretion of the gland of which 
the cell is a part has practically no nutritive value, 
altho it may be highly essential in promoting nu¬ 
trition. 

Thus, it is with the bile, the fluid secreted by the 
liver with the pancreatic juice, the secretion of 
the pancreatic gland, etc. The individual cells of 
the individual organs, when the system is work- 

44 


Physiological Functions 


45 


ing in harmony, serve to prepare secretions that 
are beneficial and necessary for the general co¬ 
working and health of the entire system. A short 
description of the functions of the various organs 
in their relation to the general system will be help¬ 
ful to some of my readers. 

From a Hydrotherapeutic standpoint, it must 
be kept in mind that the fluidity of the secretion of 
every organ and every cell is water (H 2 0), so that 
primarily an insufficient supply of water results in 
a sub-normal excretion of the waste products. In 
other words, water is the solvent of every substance 
that enters into the human make-up. However, 
it must be borne in mind, that this water is used a 
great many times within the body before it is final¬ 
ly thrown off by the kidneys, skin, lungs or other 
excreting organs. 

As an illustration of this: With every meal 
about one pint of saliva, which is over 99 per cent, 
pure water, is secreted by the Salivary Glands of 
the mouth and swallowed, where in the stomach it 
enters into the conversion of the starches into 
sugar. Again, while the contents of the stomach 
and Small Intestines are fluid, the stool contains 
but from three per cent, to five per cent, of water, 
showing that the water is absorbed in the large 
bowel and again enters into organic activity. 

Water is eliminated from the system by the four 
avenues of excretion. The air being heated in the 
lungs, increases the intermolecular space or 


46 


Water in Disease and in Health 


vacuum, and prompts the evaporation of water 
from the air chambers. A moderate estimate of 
the amount of water eliminated from the lungs in 
twenty-four hours would exceed a pint. The notice¬ 
able loss in weight experienced in people moving 
from the sea-coast where the atmosphere is laden 
with moisture, to a dry, hot climate, is largely ac¬ 
counted for by the increased loss of water thru the 
excess of elimination by the lungs. 

Approximately 96 per cent, of one’s perspiration 
is water under all circumstances. However, the 
water content increases with the rapidity of elimin¬ 
ation. Thus, is it that the water content of perspi¬ 
ration in summer is much greater (approximately 
99 per cent.) than it is in winter. It is impossible 
to estimate any average loss of water thru perspira¬ 
tion. Some Authorities have put it as high as three 
pints in twenty-four hours. 

The skin, however, is able to excrete more than 
this large quantity, as has been estimated in the 
Sanitarium in the case of the long, Hot Dry Cab¬ 
inet Pack. It has been possible in a ten-hour ex¬ 
posure to eliminate in weight more than ten pounds 
(or pints) of water, making allowance for the scant 
kidney elimination during the long sweat. This 
does not mean that the patient has lost ten pounds 
from the sweat, but it does mean that the water he 
has drunk, which exceeded ten pounds, has been 
eliminated thru the sweat glands. 


Physiological Functions 


47 


The third system of elimination is thru the kid¬ 
neys. There is no standard of elimination thru 
the kidneys under usual and ordinary circum¬ 
stances. The quantity eliminated by the kidneys 
is in almost direct proportion to the quantity of* 
water taken into the system. This quantity elim¬ 
inated by the kidneys varies from three pints to 
one gallon, and in an illness such as Diabetes as 
much as three gallons has been eliminated in twen¬ 
ty-four hours. 

In reality the kidneys are the safety-valve of the 
blood, in that, by rapid elimination of the water 
from the blood, they lessen the volume of the con¬ 
tents of the blood vessels, and consequently the 
blood pressure. 

However, it must be kept in mind that an organ 
in activity tends to continue in activity after the 
stimulation excited by the excess of water subsides. 
Thus is it a very splendid rule in all conditions of 
excessive blood pressure, to drink on an empty 
stomach, large quantities of water, which will re¬ 
sult in excessive stimulation of the kidneys long 
after the excess water has been eliminated. In 
this respect water is a remedy without a rival. 

The fourth avenue of elimination is the stool. 
Practically all the water that enters the system en¬ 
ters by way of the stomach. Unless the specific 
gravity of the stomach contents is sufficient to ex¬ 
ceed the specific gravity of the blood in the gastric 
veins, practically none of the water in the stomach 


48 Water in Disease and in Health 

is absorbed. This is true also in the Small Intes¬ 
tines. So that the contents of the stomach and in¬ 
testines are, as a rule fluid. The propulsion of food 
and water thru the Small Intestines is quite rapid, 
passing thru the entire twenty feet of this small 
gut in from four to six hours, in contrast with that 
of the large bowel that usually requires from 
twenty to twenty-four hours in its passage thru its 
five or six feet. In the Ascending Colon, which in 
reality is the human reservoir, water is mixed with 
the excretory matter and the stool and is rapidly 
absorbed. Here the Osmotic pressure is practically 
always toward the blood, in contrast to the stomach 
and Small Intestines. In other words, the water 
content of the food when it reaches the large bowel 
will approximate eighty per cent., while the stool 
will contain perhaps only five per cent, of water. 

It is impossible to approximate the amount of 
water necessary for the individual to drink. This 
is a matter that every one must decide for himself. 
However, it is logically reasonable that an excess 
of water should be constant in the Ascending Colon. 

Foods generally are divided into Carbohydrates 
(starches, sugars, and fats), proteins (nitrogen 
compounds), inorganic substances (water and min¬ 
eral salts). 

The chemical formula of sugars is identical with 
the formula for starches, plus H*0, or water. The 
chemical formula of fats is identical with that of 
sugar, plus water. Thus, it can be seen that water 


Physiological Functions 


49 


adds to the bulk of the starches and sugar eaten. 

The custom of drinking water during a meal is 
not injurious chemically nor does it interfere with 
the digestion in the stomach. However, it does 
mechanically interfere. 

Nature has provided a fountain of fluidity in 
the back of the throat in the shape of the Salivary 
Glands, that impregnate water and Ptyalin (starch 
digestant) and facilitate the swallowing of dry, 
hard food. To drink water for the purpose of wash¬ 
ing foods into the stomach interferes with the nor¬ 
mal salivary digestion. Therefore care should be 
taken not to supplement solid food with mouthfuls 
of water. 

On the other hand the drinking freely of water 
before a meal dilutes the acids of the stomach as 
well as moderates the fermenting activity of the 
bacteria, which usually swarm in the stomach, and, 
to a certain extent, carries these materials into the 
intestines before the entrance of food into the 
stomach. 

The custom of drinking a glass of cold water 
ten to fifteen minutes before taking a meal should 
be encouraged, especially if it be accompanied by 
a few minutes’ vigorous massage in the region of 
the navel. The purpose of the massage is to stimu¬ 
late muscular activity of the stomach and a fairly 
rapid expulsion of the stomach content into the 
intestine, where the alkaline bile neutralizes the 


50 


Water in Disease and in Health 


acid stomach content, and checks the activity of 
the sarcinae and yeast bacteria. 

The peculiar relief afforded gastric distress by 
bowel-evacuation is in reality nothing other than 
a reflex of contraction of the stomach from the ex¬ 
pulsive movement of the bowel. Thus is it that 
drinking cold water on an empty stomach, through 
its laxative action on the bowel, excites contraction 
of the stomach walls, and relieves many of the 
symptoms of Dyspepsia. 

The action of water on the proteid foods is large¬ 
ly that of a solvent. The function of the stomach 
is that of a churn. Its vibrations agitate the water 
and promote a separation of the proteids from the 
insoluble particles of food and also cause their sus¬ 
pension in water. Water does not enter into the 
chemical composition of the proteids in the Intes¬ 
tinal Canal. However, proteids, in the liver, are 
capable of becoming Glycogen (fat) and water un¬ 
doubtedly enters into this change. 

Inorganic salts of every nature, in fairly abun¬ 
dant quantity, are taken into the system thru drink¬ 
ing spring or reservoir water. Agitation of the 
water adds greatly to its powers to hold in suspen¬ 
sion quantities of these universal salts. 

In addition water is capable of absorbing oxygen 
from the atmosphere. Thus is it that running water 
has a “freshness” that is not found in water that 
has become stagnant. Considerable vegetable mat¬ 
ter is also found in our drinking water. 


Physiological Functions 


51 


Keeping in mind, in order to simplify matters, 
the division of foods into carbohydrates, proteids 
and inorganic substances, we should be able to un¬ 
derstand Nature’s efforts to prepare these foods 
for their ultimate use as nourishment for the tis¬ 
sues. In bulk, starch comprises the greatest amount 
of our food. The difference between raw and cook¬ 
ed starch is merely that, in the presence of heat, 
the starchy content of the cell has ruptured the 
lining membrane, and afforded free access of the 
digestive elements to the starch. Thus is it that 
the cooking of starchy foods is a step in the direc¬ 
tion of digestion. 

Civilized people accustomed to the eating of 
cooked foods, are generally incapable of digesting 
raw starch. The main digestive agent in attacking 
raw starch is the saliva. From chemical observa¬ 
tion it would seem that the digestive power of sali¬ 
va is in direct proportion to the usual amount of 
starch eaten. In other words, Nature accommo¬ 
dates herself to her demands. The South Sea Is¬ 
lander will thrive on raw starch and digest ap¬ 
proximately five to six per cent, of it, while the 
average American man or woman, accustomed to 
eating (in the main) cooked starch, will be unable 
to digest even a small percentage. 

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” literally 
translated, means that raw starch is so foreign to 
the digestive ability of the stomach and intestines 
that Nature responds by her efforts to evacuate this 


52 Water in Disease and in Health 

indigestible substance from the system. It is pos¬ 
sible, however, by a thorough mastication and mix¬ 
ing with the saliva, to digest raw starch. There¬ 
fore, it is strongly advisable that all raw fruits 
should be eaten slowly and rendered liquid before 
they reach the stomach. 

Cooked starch responds to the action of saliva. 
In the presence of moisture and the churning of 
the stomach, and in a neutral or alkaline medium it 
is converted fairly rapidly into sugars by the in¬ 
termediary steps of maltose, dextrin and glucose. 
However, in the presence of Hydrochloric Acid, 
Ptyalin loses its fermentive power, until the food 
is converted into an alkaline medium by the action 
of the bile in the intestines. 

Many physiologists contend that as high as forty 
per cent, of the cooked starch responds to the action 
of Ptyalin in the stomach. In this they are un¬ 
doubtedly wrong, for glucose or dextrose—the fin¬ 
ished product of starch digestion—is never found 
in the stomach test meal except in moderate 
amounts, while starch is ever abundant. 

The secretion of bile into the upper intestine 
just below that portion of the stomach which we 
call the pylorus, and which in reality is the divid¬ 
ing part between the stomach and intestine, re¬ 
establishes an alkaline medium for the food, and 
with this medium the resumption of the digestive 
function of the Ptyalin. The Pancreatic Gland 
secretes a digestive fluid called Amylopsin, which 


Physiological Functions 


53 


is mixed with the bile in the Common Duct that 
empties into the upper Small Intestines. Amylop- 
sin is also a diastatic (starch) digestant. 

The structure of cooked starch being destroyed, 
the microscope fails to reveal the characteristics 
of the cell in a ruptured state. On the other hand, 
raw starch or starch not sufficiently cooked to de¬ 
stroy the cell, is seen in abundance. In a well cook¬ 
ed starchy meal, such as boiled potatoes, mashed, 
it is practically impossible to obtain the iodine re¬ 
action in the stool, so that it can be readily per¬ 
ceived that the conversion of cooked starches into 
sugars is a pretty thorough process in the Small 
Intestines. 

Sugar, in the form of Glucose, is absorbed in the 
Small and Large Intestines, carried by the Ascend¬ 
ing Portal Veins to the liver, where it is converted 
into Glycogen (fat). Prom the liver it is carried 
by the Lymphatics thru the long Thoracic Duct, 
gradually entering the blood at the junction of the 
Thoracic Duct with the Descending Vena Cava 
(large vein). In the blood, Glycogen is attacked 
by the white corpuscles and further broken down, 
and, in addition, the red cells of the blood supply 
it with oxygen converting it into Plasma. Plasma 
is the ultimate of tissue nourishment. 

Pats require practically no digestion. In fact, 
only a small percentage of fat is absorbed. Even 
such a fat as that found in mother’s milk offers 
but minor nutritive value. Probably less than five 


54 Water in Disease and in Health 

per cent, of cream is absorbed by the villi of the 
Small Intestine. In fact, even onr blandest fats 
and oils are so foreign to the intestinal content that 
they act as laxatives. An illustration of this is the 
purgative action of olive and castor oil. 

To what extent the preparation or digestion of 
protein is bacteriological and to what extent it is 
fermentative cannot be definitely decided. Swarms 
of bacteria are found in the gums, teeth, tongue 
and throat of the normal healthy individual, and 
in the process of mastication these bacteria are 
implanted in the proteid food. Most of these bac¬ 
teria become inactive in the acid medium of the 
stomach, although sarcinae and yeast cells found 
in the normal stomach are exceptionally active 
in the presence of Hydrochloric Acid. These lat¬ 
ter have practically no action on proteids, but 
readily attack the starches and sugars, generating 
alcohol. In the stomach, saliva acts as a solvent to 
the proteids and holds a certain percentage of them 
in suspension. 

The early digestion in the stomach does not 
affect the proteids, however, the churning action 
of the stomach stimulates the gastric glands to se¬ 
crete an enzyme called Pepsin, which, in the pres¬ 
ence of Hydrochloric Acid, is capable of convert¬ 
ing proteids into Peptones. What percentage of 
Hydrochloric Acid, found in the stomach content, 
results from the breaking down of the Chlorides, 
and what per cent, is actually secreted is still a 


Physiological Functions 


55 


question of dispute among physiologists. Dr. Gane 
and myself are of the opinion that practically all 
of the Hydrochloric Acid found in the stomach is 
due to the breaking down of the Chlorides by the 
action of digestion. However, while Pepsin is 
capable of converting the proteids into Peptones 
in a neutral medium, its action is enhanced by the 
presence of Hydrochloric Acid. 

The Pancreatic Gland secretes a digestant, Try¬ 
psin, capable in an alkaline medium, such as the 
bile, of further converting proteids into Peptones. 

The proportion of proteids digested is much less 
than is generally supposed. Five per cent, of raw 
meat will be broken down by the average normal 
stomach and intestines. Even the albumen of the 
white of an egg is found to be largely beyond the 
action of Pepsin and Trypsin and much of it is 
thrown off as waste matter in the stool. 

Peptones are absorbed in the Small and Large 
Intestines, and, like the sugars, are carried by the 
Portal Veins to the liver, and converted into Gly¬ 
cogen. Thus is it that the ultimate form of both 
carbohydrates and proteids is Glycogen, but the 
Glycogen obtained from the proteid source requires 
less oxygen from the blood, and consequently is 
more readily converted into healthy nourishment. 
Thus it can be seen that a diet largely of meat is 
much less prone to develop an excess of Glycogen 
(fat) than a diet consisting largely of sugars and 
starches. 


56 


Water in Disease and in Health 


The claims of certain dietitians that we derive 
most of our mineral salts from beneath the skin 
of the fruit and the vegetable are without founda¬ 
tion. The table salt we use, while largely composed 
of the chloride of sodium, contains a considerable 
quantity of calcium, magnesium and other salts. 
The blood of the meats, the juices of our vege¬ 
tables and fruits, our drinking water, all supply 
liberal quantities of the mineral salts. 

In fact, a very large percentage of our derange¬ 
ments in metabolism (tissue activity) is the result 
of excess of these mineral salts, and our object in 
dieting in such diseases as Arthritic Rheumatism 
(chalky deposits in the joints) and hardening of 
the arteries is to dissolve these salts and eliminate 
them from the human system. 

Again, the most common benefit from the mixed 
diet is to establish an equilibrium of the presence 
of inorganic salts. The conditions that follow rap¬ 
idly upon an exclusive meat and fish diet, such as 
Scurvy and Beriberi, are largely the result of im¬ 
proper equilibrium in the amount of these inor¬ 
ganic salts. This is one of the most important 
reasons for refraining from an excessive indul¬ 
gence in proteid diet. 

From a Hydrotherapeutic standpoint, nitrogen¬ 
ous foods (proteids) should be encouraged in those 
diseases where the supply of oxygen is depleted or 
interfered with. 


Physiological Functions 


57 


In Pneumonia we have a diminished supply of 
oxygen, as also in advanced Tuberculosis. These 
conditions existing, the excess of protein does not 
rob the blood of its oxygen, as does the excess of 
carbohydrates. In Malarias, where the red cell 
has been destroyed by the Plasmodia and the oxy¬ 
gen content of the blood diminished, a proteid diet 
is indicated. 

On the other hand, with full hemoglobin content 
of the blood and Rheumatic manifestations, the 
liberal carbohydrate diet is desirable. This condi¬ 
tion is usually found after the age of fifty years. 
In addition, the carbohydrates, as a rule, contain 
various vegetable tannates, which have a stimula¬ 
ting action on the liver cells, and increase the ex¬ 
cretion of bile, thereby drawing the waste material 
of the brain and nervous system, and checking the 
fermentation of the intestines. 

The digestibility of the red and the white mus¬ 
cular fibers, as judged by the examination of the 
stools, indicate that there is practically no differ¬ 
ence in their composition. The difference in color 
indicates merely the difference of pigment, except 
in the case of Kosher meat that is drained of its 
blood, for use by the orthodox Jews. 

The result of cooking on the carbohydrates is 
largely due to the expansion of the starch (granu- 
lose) and rupture of the lining membrane (cellu¬ 
lose). Consequently, the effects of heat, whether 
it be by boiling or baking the vegetables and 


58 


Water in Disease and in Health 


fruits, are identical. This is not true, however, of 
the meats. The process of boiling loosens and 
softens the meat fibers, and renders the protein 
content more easily attacked by the gastric juices. 
Frying, on the other hand, toughens the fibers and 
enables them to resist digestion. 

The lime content of eggs is especially abundant, 
while the egg itself furnishes a fruitful field for 
the putrefying bacteria in the intestines. These 
two factors place eggs in the category of being 
splendid food during early adolescence, and dan¬ 
gerous food past maturity. 


CHAPTER VII 


Technique of Water Treatments 
The Cold Wet Pack 

Very rarely, indeed, is it necessary or advisable 
to use the complete Cold Wet Pack. It should be 
used only in grave conditions, as its reaction may 
be so severe as to somewhat interfere with rapid 
recuperation from the disease . In using the com¬ 
plete Cold Wet Pack, spread a blanket across the 
table or bed and dip a sheet in cold water. Roll 
the patient rapidly in the sheet, with the blanket 
rolled outside. As a rule, patients fall rapidly in¬ 
to a soft, quiet slumber, due to restricting the 
supply of blood going to the brain. In cases where 
the exhaustion is extreme I have found it advisable 
to let the patient sleep until thoroughly rested. 
The complete Cold Wet Pack should never be re¬ 
peated . In the event of a return of the Febrile 
Symptoms, a Local Wet Pack will usually be found 
sufficient. 

With the complete Wet Pack, all febrile mani¬ 
festations will usually diappear in from three to 
five minutes. The heart action becomes soft and 
regular, but somewhat sluggish in its force. Breath¬ 
ing will be shallow; cough will usually be cor¬ 
rected. 


59 


60 Water in Disease and in Health 

Free perspiration, as I have found in some of my 
cases, develops in from ten to fifteen minutes after 
the Pack has been applied, altho it is not infre¬ 
quent to find the face free from perspiration be¬ 
cause of the marked Osmosis and the perspiration 
of those parts exposed to the Pack. Because of 
the sweat, there is a fair degree of moisture in 
and about the Pack long after the water in the 
sheet has become vaporized. 

The reaction from the application of the Cold 
Wet Pack usually appears within ninety seconds 
after application, and, instead of a chill, the patient 
experiences a sense of quiet and relief in that 
period. 

Dr. Winternitz of Vienna and Dr. Guenther of 
Berlin placed much stress upon the action of the 
steam or vapor generated within the Pack. But 
while there is some vapor, it is not in sufficient 
amount to account for the coolness and moisture 
of the skin. My contention is that the moisture and 
coolness of the skin are but manifestations of the 
Osmotic pressure of the blood to the water in the 
sheet. Where the patient is not in the advanced 
stage of exhaustion warm drinks should be given 
when the Pack is first applied. But after reaction 
is established moderately cool water should be given 
freely—approximately a half pint every hour. 

The action of the Cold Wet Pack is as follows. 
With the application of the cold water in the towel 
or sheet, Nature, by restricting the finer blood ves- 


Technique of Water Treatments 61 

sels so that the blood will not be chilled, confines 
the blood momentarily internally, and as in phy¬ 
siological matters the reaction or, as we call it, the 
reflex action, is to reflex the finer blood vessels of 
the skin and permit the blood to come to the sur¬ 
face to overcome the cold. This is the same re¬ 
action that we have when a person faces the cold 
air. At first the face pales under the chill and 
is rapidly replaced by the rosy cheek and red nose. 
Excessive blood going to the face to overcome the 
chill of the cold air. 



General Cold Wet Pack 


With the return of the blood in increased quan¬ 
tities to the skin, we have, as the result of the in¬ 
creased heat, a rapid formation of vapor, that is 
the blood vessels rapidly give off their heat to the 
cold water, and vapor or modified steam is formed. 
In addition to that, the water being lighter than 
the blood, Osmotic pressure is exerted from the 
blood to the water so that we have a draining of 
the blood elements into the water in the pack. 

In other words, the Cold Wet Pack relieves in¬ 
ternal congestion by forcing the blood to the skin, 







62 


Water in Disease and in Health 


it drains off the blood by means of perspiration 
and Osmotic action, and affords the internal organs 
free opportunity of normal activity. 

Thus it can be readily seen that the claim that all 
febrile manifestations will disappear within a few 
minutes with the use of the General Cold Wet Pack 
is not exaggeration. 



Showing position of wet and dry towels 


THE LOCAL COLD WET PACK 

As a general rule, the Local Wet Pack covers the 
throat, chest and abdomen, and is what we should 
employ in Pneumonia, Pleurisy, Bronchitis, Ty¬ 
phoid Fever, Peritonitis, Colitis and Gastritis. I 
have found the ordinary hand-towel, dipped in cold 
water, spread, dripping wet, quickly over the 
chest and abdomen and covered by a bath-towel, 
with the bed-clothes drawn up around the neck, 
to be ample. The Local Pack is less severe in its 
shock, more readily used, and can be repeated at 























Technique of Water Treatments 63 

regular intervals with less reaction and less inter¬ 
ference with recovery than the Complete Cold 
Pack. 

The exposed area of the Local Wet Pack ap¬ 
proximates about one-third of the Complete Wet 
Pack, so that the Osmotic drainage and perspira¬ 
tion more nearly approaches the accommodation 
that Nature has for deviation from the normal. 

I have found that in the early stages of Pneu¬ 
monia, with a temperature above 103 degrees, and 
with marked Cough and Cyanosis, it is advisable 
during the first six hours to change the Wet Pack 
hourly. After this every two hours will he found 
ample. 

In Pleurisy it is advisable to change the Local 
Wet Pack at half hour intervals as long as pain 
exists. Frequently, however, the first application 
of the Cold Wet Pack will relieve the intense pain 
of the attack. 

In Typhoid Fever the Cold Wet Pack, during the 
first three or four days, should be changed every 
two hours. After the first week, a night and morn¬ 
ing Pack will usually be found sufficient. In Peri¬ 
tonitis, especially if it be Septic Peritonitis, the 
Pack should be changed every half hour until pain 
ceases, then at less frequent intervals. 

Contrary to the teaching of Guenther and Win- 
ternitz, I advise against friction, such as massage 
or rubbing, following the use of a Cold Wet Pack. 
Nature is undergoing reconstruction and accom- 


64 Water in Disease and in Health 

modation, and friction only increases the derange¬ 
ment by prolonging the congestion of the skin. 
After all manifestations of disease have disap¬ 
peared, Nature should have ample opportunity 
without interference, to restore adjustment and ac¬ 
commodation of her blood supply. 

Elaboration of technique in using the Cold Wet 
Pack should be avoided. The patient lying in bed 
is naturally apprehensive, and rapidity and sim¬ 
plicity of application is the main necessity. Need¬ 
less delay only increases the apprehension of the 
sufferer, and may interfere with the good effect 
of the Pack. 

It must be kept in mind that it is not the nature 
or character of the cloth or clothing of the Pack, 
—it is the water that is important. The Local 
Wet Pack, as applied to small areas, is rarely suffi¬ 
cient to meet the indication. For instance, the ac¬ 
tion of wringing out a towel in water and placing 
it about the throat in inflammatory conditions of 
the pharynx and tonsils, rarely is sufficiently radi¬ 
cal to meet with any satisfactory results. In con¬ 
ditions such as these the Pack should cover not only 
the throat but also the chest and abdomen in order 
sufficiently to draw the blood away from the con¬ 
gested parts of the throat. 

THE LOCAL HOT WET PACK 

The sole indication of the use of the Local Hot 
Wet Pack is for the relief of pain. Its virtue lies 


Technique of Water Treatments 65 

in the pain-reducing effect of heat. Yet it is so 
inferior in its action to the local or general hot 
bath in this respect that I have practically discard¬ 
ed its use in all conditions. In Sprains, Bruises, 
and Neuralgias the Hot Pack affords temporary 
relief. But I have found it far from satisfactory in 
comparison with the Dry Heat. The skin will tol¬ 
erate a far higher degree of Dry Heat, than it 
will of that from steaming water. I have seen 
cases where the hair was singed by the thermolite 
lamp, yet the patient did not complain of the heat; 
whereas, water above 130 degrees is very likely 
to excite inflammation. 

The general Hot Wet Pack should never be used , 
The General Hot Tub Bath must be applied accord¬ 
ing to the results desired. Where it is used simply 
for cleansing purposes, its duration should be brief 
and the temperature should rarely exceed 110 de¬ 
grees. It should be followed by a cold shower or 
brisk rub to increase reaction. 

It must be borne in mind that the reaction of 
the warm bath tends to draw the blood from the 
skin into the internal organs. So that exposure 
after a warm bath is always attended by dangers 
of internal congestion. When the general hot bath 
is used as preparatory to the Hot Dry Pack, the 
duration of the bath should approximate ten to 
fifteen minutes, at a temperature of about 120 de¬ 
grees. 


66 


Water in Disease and in Health 


After this bath, and prior to lying between 
blankets, the body should be briskly rubbed with 
a coarse towel to maintain the blood in the skin 
until the warmth of the Hot Dry Pack has oppor¬ 
tunity to promote sweating. As far as possible the 
entire body should be immersed in the water. It 
should be kept in mind that under the pressure of 
the water in the bath, the muscles of respiration 
have a certain amount of increased labor to per¬ 
form in the act of breathing. 

Few people recognize the enormous labor neces¬ 
sary to the act of respiration. The pressure of air 
at sea-level is about fifteen pounds per square inch. 
Therefore, the work required to fully inflate the 
lungs and overcome this external pressure will 
often exceed a weight-lifting effort of 200 pounds 
in the average man. 

When we calculate that the average rate of res¬ 
piration is about 18 to the minute, we can form 
some idea of the immense amount of labor neces¬ 
sary to furnish oxygen to the blood. Therefore, it 
is always imperative that we afford the patient free 
access to the fresh air. In the average bathroom, 
with the additional heat from the hot bath, the air 
is apt to become rarefied. Therefore, the prolong¬ 
ed general bath should be practiced with caution. 
In fevers it should never be used. The general hot 
tub bath is indicated mainly for treating local skin 
trouble. In general Eczema the Prolonged Hot 
Bath, frequently lasting an hour or more, is valu- 


Technique of Water Treatments 67 

able for its solvent action upon the hard scales as 
well as its Osmotic action upon the inflamed skin. 
This should be followed by the Hot Dry Pack. 
The same is true in extensive Psoriasis. 

In Insommnia resulting from excessive excite¬ 
ment or brain fatigue, the General Hot Tub, follow¬ 
ed by the Dry, Hot Pack usually brings about the 
desired relaxation. In fact, all general hot tub 
baths of more than ten minutes duration should be 
followed by the Hot Dry Pack. 

LOCAL HOT TUB BATHS 

Whenever Osmotic action is desired externally, 
the Local Hot Tub Bath is indicated. This is 
especially true where there is any defect in the cir¬ 
culation. 

In varicose veins, whether they be accompanied 
by ulcers or not, hourly exposure by sitting in a tub 
of hot water, followed by a brisk rub and a rest in 
bed, produces exceptionally splendid results. The 
pregnant woman during the latter stages of gesta¬ 
tion should be encouraged to relieve the pressure 
on the veins of her legs by half-hour exposures in 
a Warm Tub Bath before retiring. 

I have known even the most stubborn cases of 
Varicose Ulcers to respond to the prolonged Local 
Hot Tub Bath. Recently I was able to effect a cure 
of a bed-ridden patient—who had for fifteen years 
required the attendance of a nurse and physician— 


68 Water in Disease and in Health 

by the simple procedure of a morning and after¬ 
noon exposure of the limbs to the Hot Tub Bath. 
Within three weeks the Ulcers, Eczema and Vari¬ 
cose Veins disappeared, and with apparently perm¬ 
anent results. 

In hemorrhoidal conditions and Pruritus (itch) 
the hourly exposure to the Hot Bath usually meets 
with prompt relief, especially if preceded by the 
High Colon Irrigation. 

Bruises and Sprains, especially if sustained 
after severe exercise or injury, are almost invari¬ 
ably relieved by a half hour exposure to the Local 
Hot Tub Bath. 

The practice of exposing a feverish patient to 
the Cold Tub Bath cannot be too severely condemn¬ 
ed. This custom has been practiced by many of our 
larger hospitals in the treatment of their typhoid 
fever cases. The shock and reaction from such 
an exposure is too severe in these conditions, for 
by the sudden driving of the blood into the in¬ 
ternal organs, the danger from hemorrhage of the 
intestines is greatly increased. The same danger 
from hemorrhage is met with in Acute Pneumonia 
and Tubercular conditions. 

The Cold Tub Bath should never be used except 
by people between the years of childhood and old 
age. It should never be indulged in, in the extremes 
of life. It should be of short duration and never 
be used in febrile conditions. 


Technique of Water Treatments 69 

The sole indications for the use of the Cold Tub 
Bath are its cleansing and invigorating results. 

In conditions of Hydro-bromidrosis (stinking 
sweat) the Cold Bath, because of its invigorating 
effects upon the skin and sweat-glands, is without 
a rival. This is especially true of the offensive 
odors from under the arms or the feet. Brisk rub¬ 
bing of the skin, accompanying or following the 
bath, increases the invigorating effect of the bath. 

THE GENERAL COLD SHOWER 

Winternitz gradually displaced all tub treat¬ 
ment by the use of spray or douche, claiming that 
the friction of the water striking the skin added 
to the stimulation, and was in reality a form of 
massage. In addition, the fresh water had a great¬ 
er cleansing effect than the tub. In my own work, 
I carry ever before me the idea of not interfering 
with the equilibrium of nerve control; and I 
attempt always to obtain results thru simple and 
gentle rather than radical efforts. I have seen 
quite marked exhaustion following the cold spray 
where the force of the water has been severe. 

However, with the average healthy adult, the 
morning shower of from two to five minutes dur¬ 
ation, accompanied by friction, is invigorating. 
The shock of the cold shower will be greatly mod¬ 
ified by standing in a couple of inches of warm 
water, as reflexly, the exposure of the feet to warm 
water will cause a congestion of the skin and les- 


70 Water in Disease and in Health 

sen the shock of the cold shower. In Hysteria, 
General Malaise and exhaustion the cold shower 
will prove stimulating and invigorating, but it 
should never be used in congestive and febrile con¬ 
ditions. Also, the hot shower bath should never 
be used in disease except for cleansing purposes. 
However, it can be used as a substitute for the Hot 
Tub Bath preceding the Hot Dry Pack. 

THE ICE PACK 

The Ice Pack may be used to secure three ob¬ 
jectives. First, it must be borne in mind that cold 
retards any bacterial or putrefying activity. Sec¬ 
ond, prolonged exposures to the ice destroys sen¬ 
sation . Third, the ultimate reaction from a pro - 
longed exposure to extreme cold drives the blood 
from the exposed parts . 

Thus the use of the Local Ice Pack is of im¬ 
mense value in the treatment of conditions affect¬ 
ing those parts that are readily frozen thru, such 
as the throat in Diphtheria . Guenther obtained 
almost specific curative results by binding the 
throat loosely in a towel packed with cracked ice, 
and maintaining this Ice Pack over the parts for 
seventy-two hours. Not only did ice check the in¬ 
flammatory changes, stop the activity of the Dip - 
lococci of Diphtheria, and relieve the pain, but it 
always checked the reflex spasm and afforded com¬ 
plete relaxation from the spasm about the glottis 
and vocal cords . 


Technique of Water Treatments 71 

During my early practice, I treated acute Gon¬ 
orrheal conditions with invariable success by main¬ 
taining the Ice Pack around the male organ, or 
within the vagina for from forty-eight to seventy- 
two hours. This treatment is almost specifically 
curative and clears up the condition in an incred¬ 
ibly short time. 



The custom of applying the Ice Pack to the head 
in congestion of the Meninges cannot be too sever- 
ly condemned. Bone is a very poor conductor of 
heat or cold. Therefore, it is practically impos¬ 
sible to reach the brain thru a prolonged exposure 
to the Ice Pack. Under these conditions the gen¬ 
eral Cold Wet Pack, by drawing the blood to the 
extensive surface of the skin, very effectively re¬ 
duces any congestive inflammatory condition of 
the brain or spinal cord. 


72 


Water in Disease and in Health 


The attempt to correct so-called Appendicitis 
by the application of ice over the abdomen is far¬ 
cical. The appendix, being protected by thick lay¬ 
ers of gut, omenta, fascia, muscle and skin, cannot 
be frozen, and the benefits resulting are merely 
those that would be arrived at by the use of a small 
local Cold Wet Pack. 

THE HOT DRY PACK 

Probably this means of cure is used more than 
any other by the general public. In America it 
is the almost universal custom to correct a cold by 
producing a sweat in a warm bed accompanied by 
drinking copiously of hot lemonade or a hot toddy. 

The Hot Dry Pack varies in duration as well as 
in intensity. The object to be obtained must be 
the guide for this duration and intensity. For in¬ 
stance, the average cold will be relieved by the 
ordinary sweat for two or three hours, while it 
may be necessary to sweat the patient for ten to 
twelve hours to eradicate Syphilis. 

Hydrotherapy must, first of all, be simple, and 
must be met by those means that are at hand, so 
in the treatment of ordinary conditions we must 
resort to those means usually found in the average 
home. The object of the Hot Dry Pack is to pro¬ 
duce sweat and thus drain oft infection and intern¬ 
al congestion. The extent of the sweat must de¬ 
pend on the object we wish to secure. Primarily, 
all Hot Dry Packs, where possible, should be pre- 


Technique of Water Treatments 73 

ceded by a Hot Tub Bath of moderate duration. Be¬ 
cause of the chill produced by the sheets, it is ad¬ 
visable that the patient rest between soft blankets. 
In addition, the woolen blankets more readily ab¬ 
sorb the sweat. The bed or table should be cover¬ 
ed, by a soft blanket. When the patient is covered, 
bottles containing warm water should be placed 
about him and then another blanket should be 
wrapped around him. During the Hot Tub Bath 



the patient should be given warm drinks. After 
perspiration begins, however, moderately cool 
water best meets the indications. When the sweat 
is fully established the windows should be opened 
in order to give the patient free access to the air. 

This Hot Dry Pack given in bed is most adapt¬ 
able to the treatment of young children. In the 
initial stages of all eruptive diseases and of con- 





























74 Water in Disease and in Health 

gested conditions of tlie chest it is ideal. In fact, 
accompanied by copious injection of the bowel, the 
routine practice of giving a child the hot sweat in 
bed will meet more than ninety per cent, of the 
indications in children’s diseases. It will hasten 
the appearance of such eruptive diseases as Meas¬ 
les, Scarlet Fever, Chickenpox, Cowpox and Small¬ 
pox. It will lessen the congestion and frequently 
cure Bronchitis or Pneumonia. 

If, however, as is frequently the condition at the 
onset of disease, the child vomits, it is strongly ad¬ 
visable to cleanse the stomach either by having the 
child vomit considerable quantities of water or by 
washing the stomach by means of the stomach 
tubes. 

It must be constantly borne in mind that with 
infants there are fewer Antitoxins or Autogens in 
the fluids of their bodies and the onset of children’s 
diseases, or better, the shock of the onset of child¬ 
ren’s diseases, is of more grave consequence than 
it is in the adult, (whose fluids are charged with 
Antitoxins, and the onset necessarily is more grad¬ 
ual,) and prompt measures should be taken ta 
avoid the consequence of infection. As a safe gen¬ 
eral rule when a child manifests sickness, wash 
out the bowel thoroughly, give the child plenty 
of water to drink and put it to bed with the Hot 
Dry Pack. 

The custom of using hot bottles such as soda- 
water bottles or beer-bottles has an advantage over 


Technique of Water Treatments 75 

the rubber bottle. Glass, while a poor conductor 
of heat, will discharge heat much more readily 
than will rubber. Both, as a rule, are non-con¬ 
ductors of electricity. While again it is much more 
convenient to find empty bottles around the house 
than is is a hot water bottle. 

The duration of the Hot Dry Pack should be at 
least one hour, at a minimum. The custom of put¬ 
ting the child to bed with a hot drink to start the 
sweat, letting the bottles grow cold of themselves, 
and allowing the child to sleep out the sweat, 
is a good one. However, the anxious parent is too 
apt to stop giving the child plenty of water to 
drink when emesis or vomit occurs. This vomit 
may be the very means of correcting the decom¬ 
position in the stomach, and may be nothing other 
than Nature’s efforts to correct the infection. The 
parent should put little or no importance upon the 
gravity of free vomiting on the part of the child. 

The Hot Dry Pack in adults is excellent, espec¬ 
ially in advanced years. There is practically no 
shock and no depression accompanying or follow¬ 
ing the use of the Hot Dry Pack. Most of the ail¬ 
ments attributed to Old Age come from the lack 
of organic ability to meet the demands. The Rheu¬ 
matism of Old Age is largely due to the inability of 
the liver and the kidneys to eliminate the waste 
products of tissue changes. The Weekly Sweat ac¬ 
companied by the Copious Drinking of Water, 
with a High Colon Irrigation, enables Nature to 


76 


Water in Disease and in Health 


unload a great deal of this surplus waste material 
and relieve the overtaxed kidneys and liver. While 
again the draining of the blood into the finer ves¬ 
sels of the skin relieves the blood pressure and the 
tax upon the heart and lungs. 

The custom of the Hot Dry Pack following the 
Hot Tub Bath, with a High Colon Irrigation and 
sleeping between blankets packed in hot water 
bottles so as to produce copious sweat, is one that 
will add years to the life and comfort of people in 
their advanced years . This is especially true of 
those who have engaged in occupations that have 
excited excessive perspiration. The retired farm¬ 
er or mechanic, accustomed to strenuous exercise 
which excited perspiration, in his advanced years 
being unable to obtain the same elimination by the 
skin that formerly was his, throws an extra tax 
upon the kidneys and liver. Such people can do 
much to relieve this strain by a weekly use of the 
Hot Dry Pack and a copious sweat. 

In pulmonary conditions the Hot Dry Pack for 
Children is useful, but for adults it is so inferior 
to the local Cold Wet Pack that I do not recom¬ 
mend it. 

In mild Rheumatism the repeated Hot Dry Pack 
will be found very efficient. This is especially true 
in old people. In Urticaria, due to excessive sweat, 
draining off the irritating substance in the sweat, 
will afford relief. 


Technique of Water Treatments 77 

In summing up the use of the Hot Dry Pack, it 
must be kept in mind that free access to the air 
must be given. The same results cannot be obtain¬ 
ed in the Turkish or Russian Baths, due to th6 
impurities and heat of the air throwing an addit¬ 
ional tax upon the heart and lungs. 

THE HOT DRY CABINET PACK 

When we produce intensive sweating, as in the 
Turkish and Russian Baths, by means of the hot 
dry room or hot steam room, we throw increased 
labor on the respiratory and circulating systems 
and rapidly produce exhaustion. On the other 
hand, when we give free access to fresh air, either 
by the open window or by the tube and funnel ex¬ 
posed out of doors, there is practically no deple¬ 
tion from even excessive sweating such as we pro¬ 
duce in the correction of Tuberculosis, Rheuma¬ 
tism and Syphilis. 

In Guenther’s clinic these prolonged sweats were 
given on the open porch in moderately cool weath¬ 
er, and the patients experienced practically no 
fatigue from an eight hours exposure. In fact, 
many of them expressed themselves as greatly re¬ 
freshed during the sweat. As a rule, in these pro¬ 
longed sweats the patient will sleep peacefully. 
However, it is very essential that they drink water 
at fairly regular intervals to facilitate elimination. 


78 


Water in Disease and in Health 




















































































































































Technique of Water Treatments 79 

The hot air electrical cabinets are now practical 
in the home as they can be folded and occupy 
little space. 

In treatment of inflammatory conditions of the 
kidneys, where the object is to remove chemical 
toxins thru the skin and thus relieve the kidneys, 
the sweat should not be intensive, but should be 
prolonged, in order to enable the kidneys to recup¬ 
erate from their diseased condition. In marked 
Uremia (stupor a seventy-two hours exposure 
to the moderate Hot Cabinet Pack meets with best 
success. 

Before entering the Hot Cabinet Pack, the High 
Colon Irrigation should be used to insure rest in 
the intestines. This should be followed by fifteen 
minutes in the warm tub bath. Then, without dry¬ 
ing, the patient should enter the Hot Cabinet pack. 

Where the exposure exceeds four hours in dur¬ 
ation, the patient should be given equal parts of 
milk with cool water, instead of plain cold water. 
This will afford simple nourishment and offset the 
fatigue of the prolonged sweat. 

In Malarious conditions the sweat should be ac¬ 
tive, and of from four to six hours duration, fol¬ 
lowed by ten hours rest in bed. To insure complete 
elimination of the Malarious infection it is advised 
that the patient submit to several repeated ex¬ 
posures of the Hot Cabinet Pack. In Kheumatism 
the exposure to the Hot Cabinet Pack should rare¬ 
ly exceed three hours, but should also be repeated 


80 Water in Disease and in Health 

several times. In eliminating Syphilis in Guen¬ 
ther’s clinic, we persisted in the exposure twice 
weekly, for a ten hour duration, maintaining a most 
active sweat during this period. I am quite con¬ 
vinced, from experience with many hundred cases, 
that this treatment is practically specific in Syph¬ 
ilis. 

In Pulmonary Tuberculosis a five or six hour 
exposure, twice weekly, until the patient has had 
six to eight exposures, is advisable. 

Contrary to Winternitz and Guenther, who term¬ 
inated the sweat by a vigorous massage and rub¬ 
bing of the skin, my custom has been to withdraw 
the heat and let the patient rest, until complete re¬ 
action has been established. During the prolonged 
sweat provision must be made for the possibility 
of the patient requiring to void urine. However, 
with the prolonged sweat this is usually not nec¬ 
essary. 


BATHING 

I begin this discussion on bathing with the sim¬ 
ple statement that the human being is not amphib¬ 
ious. In other words, water in the shape of bath¬ 
ing is not essential to his health and well-being. 
It is merely the means of arriving at an end. 

We must appreciate that water has a mild sol¬ 
vent effect upon all animal tissues. The tough 
hardened leather hide becomes soft and pliable 
when immersed in water and to a greater or lesser 



Technique of Water Treatments 


81 


extent the scaly or superficial portions of our 
skin are loosened and washed away by the use of 
bathing. As a consequence, therefore, the throw¬ 
ing off of this dead tissue is more rapidly arrived 
at, with the result that Nature is encouraged in 
her effort to throw off waste material thru the 
skin; and, as a result, the Sudoriferous Glands of 
the skin can more readily throw off their secre¬ 
tions. To a very modest extent the fatty portions 
of the secretion of the skin glands are likewise 
affected, with the results that the secretions are of 
less density than they would be otherwise. 

Water is not the only medium that removes the 
waste superficial portions of the skin. The Arab 
buries himself in the sand, has a sweat and a sand 
rub, and probably has a greater degree of clean- 
iness obtained than do we of the Anglo-Saxon race. 

It must be kept in mind that the secretions of 
the skin frequently are fairly strongly acid, in 
which lactic acid is the most prevalent; and the use 
of water locally to the skin readily dilutes these 
acids, resulting in a sense of relief sometimes de¬ 
scribed as “feeling clean.” This sensation has al¬ 
so been described as being stimulating. Bathing 
as a rule is exhausting, not stimulating. It is 
soothing, not invigorating for the very reason that 
the immersion of the body into the water pronmtg^ 
Osmosis, draining the blood into the water/From 
the fact that the specific gravity of sea-water is less 
than that of fresh water, the Osmosis is necessarily 




82 Water in Disease and in Health 

much less than it would be in fresh water. It is a 
common thing to have people prefer bathing in the 
sea rather than in a lake, because of the fact that 
they feel much less fatigued. 

In weighing the benefits of bathing, it must be 
borne in mind that we control, to a somewhat 
greater degree, the supply of nourishment, than we 
do the elimination of the waste products of tissue 
changes, and that which promotes elimination in a 
moderate way is to be encouraged.* Bathing, es¬ 
pecially in sweet water (fresh water) as a routine 
is to be encouraged. Much of the languor and de¬ 
crepitness that is experienced by those deprived of 
the use of bathing is due to the lack of elimination 
thru the skin. 

The vigor of the Nations that encourage routine 
bathing, or the families that bathe as a routine 
event, contrasts very favorably with those that do 
not follow this custom. 

SEA BATHING 

If there be one special benefit derived from sea¬ 
bathing, I would name it as being the effects upon 
the brain and spinal cord. In the erect position, 
such as in walking, standing, or running, or when 
rowing or paddling, there is always a jar to the 
brain and spinal cord, due to the fact that the 
weight rests upon the buttox or the feet, and the 
jar is transmitted along the spinal column and base 
of the skull. However, in the swimming position 


Technique of Water Treatments 83 

the body sustained by the buoyancy of the water, 
practically all of this jar is removed and exercise 
is indulged in without the irritation and disturb¬ 
ance to the nerve centres, which generally, follows 
other violent exercise. Again, the ligaments and 
the attachments to the spinal column are constant¬ 
ly being jammed together thru the jar and weight 
put upon the spinal column. Therefore the exer¬ 
cise of swimming, either by the over-hand or 
breast-stroke, permits the stretching of these lig¬ 
aments and attachments. 

At the sea-level we find the air at its greatest 
density, and consequently the oxygen content the 
highest. This affords better opportunity for the 
lungs to obtain the necessary gases with less effort, 
and the result of this is not only direct upon the 
blood, but also affords the heart and lungs much 
rest, in that they do not have to labor in order to 
meet the demand for the supply of these gases. 

It is a common thing to hear people say that 
they feel so much better at the seashore or in tak¬ 
ing an ocean trip. This is especially true where 
the persons have their blood affected and their 
oxygen-carrying ability depleted thru the ravages 
of Malaria or Anemia. In fact many of the dis¬ 
eases we find in the fall months of the year, such 
as Aestivo Autumnal (Malarial) Fevers, indirect¬ 
ly owe their origin to deprivation of oxygen in the 
blood. 


84 Water in Disease and in Health 

In subtance, the benefits of sea bathing are: 

1. Encouragement of elimination. 

2. Increase of oxygen in the blood, with result¬ 
ing rest to the heart and lungs. 

3. Relaxation of the spinal ligaments when ex¬ 
ercising, accompanied by absence of the jar to the 
spinal column that we have in walking, running, 
rowing, etc. 

4. The stimulation of the vital powers that 
comes with the increased oxygen, and the reaction 
which results in quieting or soothing of mental 
unrest. (The confines of a ship compare very fav¬ 
orably to the confines of an asylum or prison. It 
is a well recognized fact that insane patients thrive 
better in an asylum near the sea than they do in 
the mountainous regions). 

The duration of the sea-bath depends upon the 
idiosyncrasy of the bather. Most people have a 
powerful rapid reaction to sea-bathing, and as a 
consequence feel a sense of exhaustion after a few 
minutes exposure. Others can remain in the 
water much longer with no sense of weakness. The 
guide for the duration should be the sense of weak¬ 
ness. The plunge is frequently sufficient. How¬ 
ever, some people can remain in the water several 
hours with no bad results. 

One of the gravest results of sea-bathing is the 
exposure of parts, that have been protected against 
exposure by clothing, to the sun. The custom of 
lying in the sun on the sand in a bathing suit can- 


Technique of Water Treatments 85 

not be too vigorously condemned. Death has oc¬ 
casionally resulted. The close relationship be¬ 
tween extensive burns and Pulmonary Tubercu¬ 
losis is well known to the Medical Profession. 
There is a close relationship between these two 
organs, that is, the skin and the lungs, and Pneu¬ 
monia or the early stages of Tuberculosis of the 
lungs, are not uncommonly caused by sudden pro¬ 
longed exposure of the body to the sun. 

The best time to bathe in the sea is before the 
bright sun in the morning, or in the cool of the 
afternoon. A loaded stomach, that is shortly after 
a meal, when the blood is congested in the veins 
of the stomach, is an unfavorable time to take a 
prolonged bath as the skin naturally responds to 
the effects of the bath, and drains the blood away 
from the stomach to the surface of the body, in¬ 
terfering with the process of digestion. Conse¬ 
quently, a prolonged sea-bath should not be indulg 
ed in for at least one hour after taking a meal. 

The evils of sea bathing are, 

1. The exposure to the sun with its depleting 
effect. 

2. Exhaustion being too profound following 
the immersion. 

3. The secretions of the skin being acid, not in¬ 
frequently the alkalines in the sea-water too read¬ 
ily neutralize this acid, which results in an irrita¬ 
tion of the skin. (Much of this latter result can 


86 Water in Disease and in Health 

be neutralized by the fresh water shower or im¬ 
mersion in fresh water.) 

4. There are a great many people who suffer 
from visionary vertigo in the presence of a large 
body of water with the result that they become 
fearful and frightened when entering the water. 
If this fear is not readily overcome by gradual 
contact with the water it is advisable for these 
people to abstain from sea bathing unless their oc¬ 
cupations are such that they are in danger from 
drowning. (It is a notorious fact that sailors, as 
a rule, are poor swimmers and our Navy makes 
it a compulsory rule that the seamen have swim¬ 
ming as part of their training.) 

Summing up the entire question of sea bathing, 
the individual must know his own sensations and 
results from the sea bath. Most people enjoy a 
sea bath. Needless to add that the young and the 
old must only have moderate indulgence. 

FRESH WATER BATHING 

Where the fresh water bath is taken at an el¬ 
evation, there is naturally less oxygen in the at¬ 
mosphere than there is at the sea-level. However, 
water either as a fluid or a vapor has an affinity 
for oxygen and the refreshing effect of the moun¬ 
tain lake is largely due to the fact that the oxygen 
content is greater in and about the lake than other¬ 
wise. 


Technique of Water Treatments 87 

The buoyancy of fresh water is less than that 
of sea-water because its density is less. Conse¬ 
quently it requires greater effort to swim and float 
in fresh water, and although the tides are not pre¬ 
valent in fresh water, the exhaustion, as a rule, 
becomes more rapidly evident than in the sea 
water. The same principles apply to the use of 
fresh water that do to salt-water bathing. 

Fresh water bathing is especially beneficial to 
certain conditions very common to women. In con¬ 
ditions of varicose veins, where the water is not 
chilly, the benefit obtained by lying on the bank 
with the water flowing up to the waistline cannot 
be exaggerated. The same is true in Hemorr¬ 
hoidal conditions, which are nothing other than a 
local varicose vein. It is advisable in these con¬ 
ditions to have the position as near horizontal as 
possible in order to afford better return of circu¬ 
lation of the blood. 

In Rheumatic conditions affecting the knees and 
the joints of the feet and ankles, the water being 
not too cool, the results are splendid. In burning, 
strong - smelling feet this exposure for several 
hours, drains off the congested condition of the 
glands of the skin and loosens the outer layers and 
waste skin tissue. 

In those conditions where we wish to obtain a 
prolonged bath of the abdomen and lower extrem- 
eties, it is advisable that the chest-wall be not ex¬ 
posed to the water. The reason of this is because 


88 


Water in Disease and in Health 


of the fact that the pressure of air is much less 
than the pressure of water, and when we have the 
chest well immersed in water we have the respir¬ 
atory muscles do just so much more work in order 
to create a vacuum within the chest cavity. 

In Varicocele, which is also a condition of Var¬ 
icose Veins, much benefit will be obtained by lying 
prone in warm water for one or two hours at a 
time. 

Local Eczemas and local Ulcers which frequent¬ 
ly accompany Varicose Veins, will be greatly ben¬ 
efited by the daily bath. 

In other words, the ideal sitz bath will be at the 
lake or brook-side with fresh air and opportunity 
to lie on the bank, and all the benefits of the sitz 
bath can be to best advantage obtained in this way. 
The dangers from the sun seem to be less about the 
lake or brook, possibly because of the increased 
shade, than about the sandy beach. However, it 
is wise to use the same precaution in bathing in 
fresh water that we use in bathing in salt water. 

Eestraint from bathing because of physical ir¬ 
regularities, if the water be warm, need not be 
practiced. There is no reason why a moderately 
healthy woman should not bathe at any time, pro¬ 
vided the water be not too chilly. This restraint, 
infrequently, has found its origin in the close re¬ 
lationship between the nerves of the feet and 
nerves of the pelvic organs, and it has been carried 
out too extensively. In the Samoan Islands the cus- 


Technique of Water Treatments 89 

tom of daily bathing under all circumstances is 
practiced, and no undesirable effects have been ob¬ 
served from the bath. In fact, it should be en¬ 
couraged because of the sedative action of the bath. 
Infrequently, it is a fact, that, the nervous con¬ 
dition of most women at these periods is quite ex¬ 
citable, and the prolonged warm bath is sedative 
in its action. 


90 


Water in Disease and in Health 



CHAPTER VIII 
Water in the Digestive Tract 


It is more tlian probable that this simple Work 
will find its way into the hands of many who are 
not familiar with the anatomy of the Human 
Frame, and I am asking any such reader who is 
not familiar with the structure of the human body, 
to consult this simple diagram in order to have a 
picture in his mind of the course of the alimentary 
canal. In addition to the rough draft of the canal, 






Water in the Digestive Tract 91 

it should be kept in mind, generally speaking, that 
we have four coats of tissue thruout this canal. 
From without inward, we have a thin vicid mem¬ 
brane which we call the serous coat; inside of this 
are two layers of muscular coats, one of which runs 
parallel to the canal and is capable of shortening 
the length, and another coat which runs around, 
called the circular, which is capable of contracting 
and closing the lumen of the canal. 

In the stomach, however, there are a few fibers 
that run obliquely across, in addition to these two 
coats. Within the muscular coats is a loosely form¬ 
ed membrane called the sub-mucous, and resting 
upon this sub-mucous is the mucous covering, 
somewhat similar to the covering of the lips and 
gums. The glands of the stomach and intestines 
are found largely in the sub-mucous, with ducts 
eintying thru the mucous membrane. 

It must be remembered that while the Esophag¬ 
us Stomach, Small Intestines and the Large In¬ 
testine comprise the main portions of the Diges¬ 
tive Canal, the Functions of the Liver and the 
Pancreatic Gland are so closely allied with the 
Digestive Tract that in reality they are parts of 
the same system. In addition, do not forget that 
the net-work of veins in the stomach are very im¬ 
portant adjuncts to the Digestive Canal. 

In the Digestive Canal water has a great many 
important functions. It is a food, a lubricant, a 
solvent and a chemical ingredient. It is also a 


92 


Water in Disease and in Health 


diluent and is capable of exercising local and re¬ 
mote physical and physiological action. As a food, 
water enters into the actual chemical and physical 
constitution of digesting food. To those not fam¬ 
iliar with the changes, I would say that starch 
plus water is converted into sugar; and sugar plus 
water becomes Glycogen or fat. For the purpose 
of adding bulk to the starches, Nature secretes by 
her salivary glands approaching a pint of saliva 
with each meal, which is swallowed during and 
after the meal and which contains the ferment 
called Ptyalin, which in turn promotes in an al¬ 
kaline or neutral medium the conversion of starch¬ 
es into sugars. This saliva is in excess of ninety- 
nine per cent, water, and this enters largely into 
the formation of sugars and fats. 

The fluid in our joints is over ninety-six per 
cent, water. In cases of disease such as Mumps, 
where the flow of saliva is checked, the swallowing 
processes are decidely modified and require water 
or fluids to lubricate the food. Over seventy-five 
per cent, of all the foods passed from the stomach 
thru the pylorus into the intestine is fluid held in 
suspension by water in modified form. 

Every secretion in the human body is solvent 
in water. In fact, the basis of every secretion and 
every excretion in the human body is water. 
The fruit, vegetable and the proteid juices are sol¬ 
vent in water when modified by the digestive fer¬ 
ment in the stomach and intestines. 


Water in the Digestive Tract 93 

All food ultimately reaches the blood in the form 
of Glycogen whether its origin be proteid (ani¬ 
mal), such as milk, eggs and meats, or carbohy¬ 
drates, such as vegetables, starches, etc. and gly¬ 
cogen will approach eighty-five per cent, of water. 
So that water, not only physically, but chemically, 
enters into the fermentation of food. 

For the specific results of water in the Digestive 
Canal, certain definite rules must be remembered. 
For instance, where we wish to add to the bulk of 
our meal it is advisable to drink freely of water 
fifteen or twenty minutes before meal-time. This 
enables the water, on an empty stomach, to reach 
the human reservoir of the Ascending and Trans¬ 
verse Colons and supply the water amount of fluid 
to the Salivary Glands. It requires no stretch of 
imagination to recognize that water coming from 
the Salivary Glands impregnated with the diges¬ 
tive ferment Ptyalin, is superior to water drunk 
as a means of washing the food into the stomach. 
In this respect it is wise to keep in mind the nec¬ 
essity of impregnating the food with the saliva so 
as to secure a proper combustion of the starches 
in the stomach. Drinking water with the meals 
hurries the food into the stomach and lessens the 
demand for the secretion of saliva. 

Drinking water before meals has also addition¬ 
al effect. It dilutes the acid, diffuses bacterial de- 


94 Water in Disease and in Health 

composition and renders the stomach more bland 
to receive the food. 

It must be remembered, that the contents of the 
stomach when not consisting of food, are normal¬ 
ly either neutral or slightly alkaline, and Ptyalin 
is only active in a neutral or alkaline medium. 
The acid flow of the stomach is a late manifesta¬ 
tion of stomach digestion, and with its appear¬ 
ance the conversion of starches into sugars is 
checked. Thus it can be readily recognized that 
not infrequently can the cause of emaciation be 
traced to drinking water in order to wash down 
the food, rather than drinking water several min¬ 
utes before meals. 

Fortunately the custom of placing a glass of 
water on the table before the order for the meal is 
given, is almost universal in our hotels and restaur¬ 
ants. This somewhat meets the indication, altho 
the time afforded before eating is scarcely suffic¬ 
ient. The average business man should immediate¬ 
ly drink this glass of water, and, in order to pro¬ 
mote its rapid expulsion into the intestine, should 
slip his fingers inside his vest and massage his 
stomach vigorously for several minutes. (Mas¬ 
sage of the stomach will be more elaborately de¬ 
scribed in a future chapter.) 

Water varies in its action in the stomach and 
intestines in accordance with its specific gravity. 
It can be readily understood, that the solvent prop¬ 
erties of water secures its rapid entrance into the 


Water in the Digestive Tract 95 

consistency of the stomach or intestinal contents, 
if drunk when the stomach contains food. In this 
way its specific gravity may be heavier than the 
blood, and in that event the Osmotic pressure 
would be opposite to what it would be were the 
stomach empty, and the specific gravity of the food 
exceeded that of the stomach contents. 

The temperature of water modifies the effects. 
In other words, warm water soothes and quiets the 
peripheral nerves in the membrane of the stomach; 
while cold water irritates and stimulates these 
nerves. Thus it is that the physiological action of 
hot water and cold water in the stomach are prac¬ 
tically opposite to each other. 

In the empty stomach, warm water excites Os¬ 
mosis, dilutes the products of fermentation and 
somewhat lessens the activity of the yeast and sar- 
cinae bacteria. (It must be borne in mind that 
these bacteria have practically no activity in a 
neutral or alkaline medium, but are viciously ac¬ 
tive in an acid medium.) There is practically no 
direct or reflex stimulation to the muscular activ¬ 
ity in the stomach or intestines, and the Osmotic 
action is fairly pronounced. This latter action, 
from the custom of drinking two or three glasses 
of warm water upon rising, loses its use and be¬ 
comes a menace. With the absence of stimulation 
to muscular contraction the water remains unduly 
long in the stomach, and the Osmotic action may be 
too prounced. After some thirty years observation 


96 


Water in Disease and in Health 


of the effects of the custom of drinking hot water 
on rising, I am justified in saying that its use is 
so inferior to that of drinking cold water that the 
custom should be abandoned. If however, the cus¬ 
tom of drinking hot water on rising is persisted in, 
it is extremely urgent that the patient stimulate 
the stomach by vigorous massage, in order to se¬ 
cure sufficient muscular activity to promote a fair¬ 
ly active expulsion of the water into the Intestinal 
Canal. 

Cold water on the empty stomach has all the 
diluent action of warm water, and has a decidedly 
inhibitory action on the yeast and the sarcinae, and 
is directly stimulating to the motor-nerves of the 
muscular coats of the stomach. Nature reacts by 
sending increased blood to overcome the cold, and 
by relaxing the pylorus so that the water may be 
spread over a greater area in the intestines as well 
as in the stomach. In this way we have not only 
a direct stimulation to the muscular, but a stimu¬ 
lation to the mucous membrane because of the in¬ 
creased blood supply. 

In this way, Nature gains rapid expulsion into 
the Small Intestine and has a cleansing effect upon 
the stomach; the Osmosis is not too prolonged and 
the Osmotic action is carried thruout the Small In¬ 
testine; the water rapidly reaches the high bowel 
where it has a decided laxative action. In contrast 
with the general conception, the action of cold 
water in the empty stomach is less injurious be- 


Water in the Digestive Tract 99 

When water is introduced in a sitting position 
it rarely reaches past the Sigmoid Flexure and 
the rectum is distended and very often the after¬ 
effect is to weaken this organ. When lying on 
the left side the water will sometimes reach as 
high as the Sigmoid Flexure. However, in the 
knee-chest position the water thru the force of 
gravity flows into the Tranverse Colon, and when 
the patient assumes the erect position a very 
large portion of this water will flow into the 
Ascending Colon. So that for laxative action the 
effect would be a cleansing of the entire colon. 
While again, in the Ascending and Tranverse Col¬ 
on, the water is readily absorbed and enters the 
blood, ultimately being elminated by the kidneys. 

The benefits of assuming the Knee-Chest Pos¬ 
ition in order to introduce the water into the lower 
digestive canal cannot be exaggerated. In the 
female it affords opportunity for the pelvic organs 
to leave the pelvic canal and give better opportun¬ 
ity for the water to flow thru the descending colon. 
In the male it enables the water to flow by the 
prostate, and will relieve the sags in the bladder 
which infrequently is filled with acrid deposits. 

The technique of introducing water in the lower 
canal is simple. The ordinary fountain syringe 
with the nozzle introduced a short distance within 
the canal is sufficient. Because of the irritation 
of the hard substance the soft tube is considered 
advisable. However, it is unnecessary. When the 


100 


Water in Disease and in Health 



UPRIGHT POSITION 
(SHOWING IRRIGATION! 



KNEE-CHEST POSITION 
(SHOWING IRRIGATION) 




Water in the Digestive Tract 101 

patient takes the irrigation lying on the right or 
left side the water would have to force its way 
upward through the Sigmoid Flexure which is 
practically impossible. The folds of the rectum 
and the Sigmoid Flexure act like cup-like valves 
in these positions in order to hold the passage of 
the stool in check. However, in the Knee-Chest 
Position these depressions follow upward and af¬ 
ford free passage of the water. 

If the patient is too weak to assume the Knee- 
Chest Position, let him lie on his face and elevate 
his hips by a couple of pillows. In extreme cases 
I have even elevated the foot of the bed. In cases 
of children I have lifted them by the hips and let 
their heads rest upon the floor. 

In the Knee-Chest Position from four to six 
pints of water may be injected safely and without 
much inconvenience to the adult. However, in 
cases of sickness where we wish to irrigate with 
regularity, one quart will be sufficient. 

If there is an impaction of fecal matter in the 
lower bowel when irrigation is attempted, it may 
be necessary that the patient have an evacuation 
before we can succeed in reaching the Tranverse 
Colon. Sometimes it is necessary to make several 
attempts before we can reach the High Colon. 

In conditions of Splanchnoptosis, where there 
is a sagging or down displacement of the Trans¬ 
verse Colon, the weight of the water in the Knee- 
Chest Position in the Transverse Colon will do 


102 Water in Disease and in Health 

much to restore this organ to its normal position, 
and it is advisable before massage is used on this 
organ that the High Colon Irrigation be thorough¬ 
ly practiced. 

The nerve supply of the colon is extremely sen¬ 
sitive to shock. The extreme prostration accom¬ 
panied by Diarrhea and the extreme pain that ac¬ 
companies Colic somewhat manifests the sensitive¬ 
ness of these organs. Because of this fact, 1 
strongly urge that all water introduced into the 
colon approach the normal temperature of this 
organ, that is about 101 degrees Fhr. Nothing is 
to be gained by the use of cold water, as the mere 
presence of water in itself is sufficient to promote 
peristaltic movement and it is never advisable to 
make this movement in excess. It has been my 
custom to neutralize the content of the water either 
by the addition of bicarbonate of soda or an alka¬ 
line tablet. The quantity used must depend large¬ 
ly upon the toleration. It must never be in excess 
of six pints and frequently a quart will meet all 
indications. In cases of the young infant as little 
as one-half pint may be used. 

In the summer Diarrheas of children the alka¬ 
linity of the irrigation should be rather in excess. 
One-half teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda or one 
or two alkaline antiseptic tablets will be found 
safe and healing locally to the membrane, correct¬ 
ing the irritation of the lactic and bacteriatic ac¬ 
tion of the stool. 


Water in the Digestive Tract 103 

In advanced Colitis much benefit will be gained 
by a free use of the alkaline antiseptic tablets. In 
addition to correcting the acidity and the acid 
content of the colon, they have a mild disinfectant 
action upon the fermenting bacteria, checking 
very considerably the fermentation of the putre¬ 
fying gases. 

It is wise to keep in mind the great sensitive¬ 
ness of the nerves of the colon, and the necessary 
prostration which follows anything which has a 
stimulating effect upon these nerves. It is also 
highly advisable that after the use of the High 
Colon Irrigation, the patient have opportunity to 
rest a few minutes, or better if longer, after taking 
one of these treatments. 

In conditions of interception (telescoping) of 
the bowel the mechanical weight of the water in 
the High Colon Irrigation, given in the Knee-Chest 
Position, has, in my hands, been able to correct 
this abnormality when confined to the colon. 

It must be borne in mind that as a rule in the 
Transverse Colon and Ascending Colon, and, to a 
modified extent, in the Descending Colon, the Os¬ 
motic pressure is to the blood, not from it; in con¬ 
trast with that of the stomach and Small Intestine, 
where, when empty, the pressure is from the blood 
to the water content. For this reason whenever 
we wish to obtain rapid absorption of the water, 
as in all acute diseases, the introduction of water 


104 


Water in Disease and in Health 


into the colon thru the rectum should be the initial 
step in the treatment. 

The custom of using soapsuds as a supplement 
to the irrigation should be condemned. The caus¬ 
tic soda or potash in the stronger soaps is too ir¬ 
ritating. However, in cases of impacted stool the 
addition of olive oil or a bland soap such as Ivory 
Soap acts as a lubricant. It not infrequently oc¬ 
curs that the rectum is impacted with hardened 
fecal matter. This is quite common in children 
and in adults who drink excessive quantities of 
milk. In these cases the parent should not hesitate 
to introduce the finger and, as far as possible, break 
up the hardened mass before trying to force it 
thru the anal passage; and it also must be remem¬ 
bered that if this condition exists in the rectum it 
is very apt to likewise occur in the Ascending Col¬ 
on. In that event the irrigation should be supple¬ 
mented by strong massage thru the abdominal wall 
in an effort to loosen and break up the mass. 

Rarely will there be a sense of nausea as the 
water flows upward. This is more particularly 
true when the stomach is displaced downward and 
the water in the colon carries it up against the 
stomach. As a very general rule this should not 
be considered as any objection as under spasm of 
the irrigation the stomach will be contracted to its 
normal position. 

Because of the rapidity with which w T ater reach¬ 
es the blood thru the colon, the High Colon Ir- 


Water in the Digestive Tract 105 

rigation is strongly diuretic; that is, it increases 
the flow of urine. The benefits of this are far 
reaching and many. In acute diseases it supple¬ 
ments the intestinal evacuation with the kidney 
elimination. 

In conditions of High Blood Pressure it drains 
off the blood by the excessive passage of fluid thru 
the blood, lessening the bulk, and in this way les¬ 
sening the necessary labor of the heart. 

In Chronic Conditions it eliminates the poisons 
and chemical waste materials. In local affections 
of the large bowel, it affords us opportunity to 
give direct treatment. 

Lavage of the colon is used merely in local con¬ 
ditions, such as Amoebic Dysentery, Suppurative 
Colitis, etc. It merely consists in introducing the 
water and siphoning it off. My own personal ex¬ 
perience prompts me to believe this method in¬ 
ferior to irrigation because of the fact that it 
hastens elimination of the water from the bowel, 
and thus lessens the therapeutic value of the water. 

In contrast with the colon lavage, the lavage of 
the stomach is a more Hydrotherapeutic meas¬ 
ure, especially in diseases of the digestive system. 
For the simple reason that, as a rule, all peristaltic 
movement is downward and the stomach is in real¬ 
ity nothing but a mixing churn which from time 
to time, becomes mechanically and chemically dis¬ 
eased. 


106 


Water in Disease and in Health 



Home Treatment for High Colon Irrigation 






































Water in the Digestive Tract 107 

STOMACH LAVAGE 

It is surprising that the general public are so 
very antagonistic to this simple method of Stomach 
Lavage or washing out of the stomach. Less than 
one-tenth of one per pent, of my cases, and these 
number at a minimum of 20,000, have proved too 
difficult for stomach lavage. 

Unfortunately, the Medical Textbooks have 
evidently been led astray by the old method of the 
sword swallower, who threw his head back and 
went thru various contortions as he swallowed the 
gilded rubber sword. As one visualizes the atti¬ 
tude that a person involuntarily assumes when he 
vomits, then one has the proper position for Stom¬ 
ach Lavage, where the muscles are most adaptable 
to the introduction of the tube. Again, the force 
of gravity plays a fairly important role and for 
this reason the head should be bent forward so 
that the saliva, instead of following the pharynx, 
will pass forward and out of the mouth. 

A little practice will soon develop a high degree 
of skill with the individual in passing the tube not 
only to himself but to others. A recent case some¬ 
what illustrates this. A Mr. C— engineer of one 
of the coast vessels had a Stomach Tube for his 
individual use. While his ship was lying in Rio 
de Janeiro, the captain was seized with Ptomaine 
Poisoning. The local physicians were unable to 
afford him any relief and it was with considerable 


108 


Water in Disease and in Health 


pride that Mr. C— passed the tube and washed out 
the offending material from the captain’s stomach. 

My technique in washing out the stomach is to 
have a quart sized funnel attached to about three 
feet of rubber tubing, and this in turn connected by 
a glass connection, either the Delafield or the 
Kemp Tube. (These can be obtained at Geo. Tie- 
man Co’s., N. Y.) 



Proper way of swallowing tube for stomach lavage (left) 
Improper way of swallowing tube for stomach lavage (R.) 


For practical purposes a number 29 or 30 
French size will meet all indications. In fact, even 
in young children no harm will arise from using a 
tube of this size. 

The danger of passing the tube in too far is nil, 
as the tube will turn with the curve of the stomach. 
The escape of gas signifies that the tube has reach- 



Water in the Digestive Tract 


109 



Correct Method of Washing Out Stomach 
























110 


Water in Disease and in Health 


ed the stomach and then it is advisable to pass the 
tube an additional two inches after the escape of 
gas. 

Within the stomach vast quantities of yeast and 
sarcinae bacteria are constant factors. These are 
very active fermenting bacteria in the presence of 
an acid medium, but are inert in an alkaline med¬ 
ium. Such authorities as Drs. Boas, Oppenheim, 
Rosenheim and Cohnheim, recommend the ad¬ 
dition of bicarbonate of soda to neutralize the 
acids. The addition of salt has been prescribed by 
quite a number of American Specialists. I have 
found that the addition of alkaline antiseptic tab¬ 
lets proves very beneficial. In addition to neutral¬ 
izing the acid content they have a mild antiseptic 
action on the various fermenting bacteria in the 
stomach. However, I use these very moderately, 
putting four or six tablets to one gallon of water. 

The benefit of having a large glass funnel is to 
afford better means of approximating the amount 
of water thrown into the stomach. Rarely is it 
advisable to give in excess of one quart and in fact 
about one and one-half pint with each filling is the 
best gauge. The funnel is held at an elevation of 
about four or five feet above the stomach, and the 
water permitted to flow in until it reaches about 
one inch above the end of the funnel, when it is 
dropped to the basin and the water siphoned out. 

If the water flows but promptly returns, it is due 
to the fact that food has clogged the tube or else 


Water in the Digestive Tract 111 

the tube is not far enough within the stomach. (It 
is then advisable to either introduce the tube fur¬ 
ther, or withdraw the tube and note if it is in any 
way clogged.) A little practice will soon make the 
individual very successful. 

Lavage of the stomach should be practiced when 
the stomach is empty, the early morning Lavage 
or the late evening Lavage being advisable. In 
fact the latter has the advantage in that it renders 
the stomach content bland, affording a more rest¬ 
ful sleep and permitting return to normal con¬ 
ditions because of the rest. 

Usually four funnels full of water will secure 
thorough cleanliness. Lavage of the stomach, even 
in conditions of Ulceration, should be followed by 
moderate massage of this organ in order to over¬ 
come any possible dilation, that may be occasioned 
by the constant introduction of the water. In ad¬ 
dition there will always be a slight residue which 
under the contraction of the following massage 
promotes laxation of the bowels. 

Internal cleanliness should be practiced, not 
alone to meet the immediate conditions, but as a 
prophylactic for future possibilities. More than 
ninety per cent, of the deaths from so-called Heart 
Disease and Apoplexy are nothing other but man¬ 
ifestations of stomach troubles, which the prompt 
use of the Stomach Tube, and ample washing with 
bland water, would have immediately corrected. 


112 


Water in Disease and in Health 


The recent death of our President, Mr. Harding, 
is a broadcast illustration of this. As I formerly 
stated, there are about one-tenth of one per cent, of 
people who because of anatomical conditions find 
it impossible to use the Stomach Tube. 

As we mature in age we lose our ability to prop¬ 
erly evacuate the stomach. Children as a rule 
vomit easily. The stomach is in a more vertical 
position and its muscular coats are not weakened 
from stretching or dilating, and more readily re¬ 
spond to irritation in childhood. People past fif¬ 
ty should train themselves to easily and thorough¬ 
ly evacuate the stomach, either thru emesis (vom¬ 
iting) or by means of the Stomach Tube. 

The stomach in reality is nothing other than a 
“still” where alcoholic, butyric, etheric, pepton- 
genic and putrefying fermentations are constantly 
being encouraged, and when any or all of these 
fermentations become excessive beyond the point 
of toleration, there should be no question about 
removing them, either by means of vomiting or 
by use of the Stomach Tube. 

To promote emesis, drink freely of warm water; 
this adds to the fluidity and bulk and enables bet¬ 
ter evacuation of the stomach. The drinking free¬ 
ly of several glasses of water, and irritating the 
fauces with the finger will usually promote a rap¬ 
idly free expulsion. This should be repeated un¬ 
til the stomach content becomes bland and com¬ 
plete relief is afforded. 


Water in the Digestive Tract 113 

Tlie processes of vomiting are much inferior 
to that of washing the stomach out. The straining 
of vomiting, not infrequently, forces the bile from 
the intestines back into the stomach and adds to 
the distress. The great prostration that follows 
vomiting is not experienced when the Stomach 
Tube is used, especially if the Lavage be followed 
by moderate massage of the stomach. 

In the Digestive Tract, apart from the physi¬ 
ological action of water, it must be borne in mind 
that we have a physical action as well, and this 
physical action is in direct proportion to the spec¬ 
ific gravity of the water in its relation to the blood. 
In other words, the nearer the water approaches 
chemical and physical purity, i.e. Distilled Water 
or H 2 0, the greater will be its deviation from the 
specific graity of the blood, and consequently the 
greater will be its Osmotic action. Water in reality 
is a dissatisfied compound, having molecular af¬ 
finity for chemical salts and vegetable acids. This 
fact of molecular affinity is of great therapeutic 
value, especially in Rheumatic, Gouty and Preg¬ 
nant Conditions, for the drinking of distilled water 
in large quantities, promotes the absorption and 
elimination of the lime and other salts. The con¬ 
stant drinking of distilled water in conditions of 
Hardening of the Arteries is highly advisable, in 
that its affinity for the deposits of lime salts in the 
walls of the arteries promotes their elimination. 


114 


Water in Disease and in TTealth 


Because of these physical properties of water, it 
can be readily understood that alkaline and min¬ 
eral waters deviate from the specific gravity of the 
blood much less than do distilled waters, and con¬ 
sequently distilled or rain water, frequently, has 
far greater therapeutic value than do the mineral 
waters. In other words, except to supply some 
specific remedy, plain water is superior in its thera¬ 
peutic value to mineral waters. 


CHAPTER IX 


Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 

Generally speaking, pregnancy is a condition 
where Nature must be given exceptional opportun¬ 
ities to meet the extraordinary demands put upon 
her. In other words, Nature must go out of her 
usual routine to develop capabilities that insure 
maintenance of health, as well as to provide for 
the growth of the infant. 

Prom a Hydrotherapeutic point of view, Water 
stands forth as the panacea in pregnancy and child¬ 
birth. In only one respect is it inferior, and that 
is in supplying oxygen. This is best furnished 
by the air. 

In order to apply water reasonably, certain phys¬ 
ical and physiological facts must be emphasized 
so that these uses may be guided in the proper 
channel. 

Keeping in mind that the mother must not only 
nourish the infant, but must also eliminate waste 
material for both herself and her child, it can be 
readily understood that all organs of elimination 
must be toned up to a high degree of activity. 
Therefore, from the early stages of conception, 
water should be systematically drunk with some 
definite purpose. 


115 


116 Water in Disease and in Health 

To regulate the bowels, two glasses of cold water, 
taken upon rising in the morning, should be the 
routine practice. Much benefit will be secured by 
an additional five minutes gentle massage of the 
abdomen. This should be continued thru the en¬ 
tire course of pregnancy. 

The drinking of mild citrus beverages between 
meals, as well as the free use of plain water, should 
be encouraged for its action on the kidneys. I also 
urge moderation in the use of proteid foods, more 
especially during the later stages of pregnancy, 
for proteids are too rapidly oxidized and cause 
excessive urea. Raw starches, such as are found 
in the apple, are difficult to oxidize. Citrus fruits, 
such as the orange, are especially valuable because 
of their solvent properties on the mineral salts, and 
for the manner in which they build up the alkaline 
reserves of the blood. 

The rapid elimination of the mineral salts will 
go far toward moderating the labor of childbirth. 
With excess of these salts the bones of the infant 
prematurely become calcified, and resist the mold¬ 
ing necessary to conform the parts to the avenue 
of delivery. Certain foods such as eggs, are es¬ 
pecially abundant in lime salts, and during the 
last ilionths of pregnancy they should be avoided. 

Enlarged and varicose veins are a very common 
and distressing complication of pregnancy . This 
results from mechanical pressure upon the veins 
in and below the abdomen. At noon every day, a 


Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 117 

half-hour Sitz Bath in a tub of warm water, for its 
drainage effect on the veins by Osmosis, will be of 
immense value in correcting varicose veins. The 
muscular coats of the larger veins will be stimu¬ 
lated by mild massage supplementing the sitz bath. 

The question of bathing is one that requires con¬ 
siderable individual attention. The Cold Tub, while 
stimulating, is too severe, and the prolonged gener¬ 
al bath too depleting. The cold sponge bath is not 
so severe as the cold tub-bath, especially if the 
woman can stand in a tub or basin of warm water. 
The Cool Shower, standing in several inches of 
warm water, more nearly approaches the ideal 
bathing for the pregnant woman than any other. 

Colon Irrigations are especially beneficial to 
pregnant women. Keep in mind the physiological 
fact that the High Colon Irrigation is especially 
active in flushing the kidneys as well as the bowels. 
The only symptom which should be allowed to dis¬ 
courage the fairly regular bi-weekly High Colon 
Irrigation thruout pregnancy is emaciation, which 
may occur occasionally, because of the stool being 
hurried thru the large bowel,—the powers of ab¬ 
sorption in the small intestines being insufficient 
to properly nourish the mother. 

Pregnancy always means oxygen-hunger for the 
mother. Apart from the interference with dia¬ 
phragm freedom, the mother must supply oxygen 
for the tissues of the child, and ultimately, in the 
later months of gestation, actual oxygen for the 


118 Water in Disease and in Health 

child’s circulation. Again, the development of 
maternity on the part of the mother requires in¬ 
creased oxygen to meet this demand. This in¬ 
dicates the need for access at all hours to free at¬ 
mosphere. 

At the sea-level the air is more condensed and 
contains relatively more oxygen. Therefore, the 
pregnant woman, as a rule, thrives better in lower 
altitudes. Where it is possible, the pregnant wom¬ 
an should move from high altitudes to lower levels, 
especially after the fifth month. Moderate exer¬ 
cise in the open air is imperative, and the sleeping 
room should always he freely ventilated. 

With the first evidence of Albumen in the urine, 
or even vertigo and dizziness, the Hot Dry Pack 
should be used every second or third night. The 
custom of a regular weekly sweat after the sixth 
month is of exceptional value to both mother and 
infant, in that it materially eliminates the waste 
materials of tissue combustion, and relieves as well 
the overstrained circulation of the abdominal and 
pelvic organs. 

This sweat can be made a matter of simple rou¬ 
tine. The mother drinks a large glass of hot lemon¬ 
ade, well sugared, and lies in blankets, surrounded 
by hot water bottles, thus exciting a moderate 
sweat. After an hour’s sweat the bottles can be 
withdrawn, and the mother left to sleep the night 
out. During my early years of practice I made this 
the regular routine. 


Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 119 

My results from dieting were very gratifying. 
Keeping in mind the fact that the most difficult 
and painful stage was that of the molding of the 
head, I sought to keep the supply of mineral salts 
down to the minimum after the fifth month. The 
mother was encouraged to live mainly on raw fruits 
and vegetables, in which the protein content is 
very small. Oranges stood foremost on the diet, 
and eggs and the white bean were strictly for¬ 
bidden. Celery, lettuce and spinach were used 
freely. To make up for the deficit of carbohy¬ 
drates, I recommended sugar to be freely used. 
Potatoes and turnips, well boiled without salt in 
the water—to promote the removal of the mineral 
salts of the vegetable—were allowed. Instead of 
breadstuffs, boiled cereals without salt, but well 
sugared, were allowed. 

Under these restrictions the pains and duration 
of labor were reduced to the minimum. Two of 
my cases stand out prominently in my mind, where 
the mothers delivered healthy boys in less than a 
half-hour’s labor. 

The conditions after delivery are just opposite 
to those of antedating childbirth, and the diet 
should be abruptly changed to meet the change of 
circumstances. The mother has had her supply 
of mineral salts reduced to the minimum. She must 
now have opportunity to supply the lack. Her 
diet consequently should be largely protein. This 


120 Water in Disease and in Health 

is more important when the mother nurses her 
child, as the child’s bones require the mineral salts. 

During the early stages of labor the deep, warm 
sitz bath is most beneficial. It modifies, the local 
pain, and by its Osmotic action lessens the blood in 
the perineum, and promotes relaxation and con¬ 
sequent dilation. Before the head passes over the 
brim, the mother should leave the tub, and hot 
fomentations be substituted over the parts. 

With the beginning of labor, High Colon Irri¬ 
gation is very essential and beneficial. If labor be 
prolonged, a second irrigation should follow, eight 
to ten hours after the first. 

A moderate sweat by means of the Hot Dry Bed 
Pack, promotes the appearance of milk. This may 
be given the second day after the confinement. 

With involution — that is, return to the same 
physical condition as before pregnancy—much of 
the surplus tissues must be consumed. The mother 
therefore, should always have free ventilation in 
the sick room, to afford plenty of oxygen for tissue 
combustion. Carbohydrates should be somewhat 
restricted because of the fact that they do not ox¬ 
idize as readily as the proteids. Neglect of this 
precaution frequently results in Obesity, which 
explains why more than seventy per cent, of young 
matrons become fat after childbirth. 

In my cases I recommend, after the first day, 
copious vaginal douches of vinegar and water as 
hot as can be tolerated. The refrigerating action 


Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 121 

of the acetic acid of the vinegar, supplements the 
soothing action of the hot douche. 

After the fifth day the local Cold Wet Pack, 
changed every three or four hours and accompan¬ 
ied by gentle massage, proves of value in restoring 
the normal figure of the abdomen. The Cold Wet 
Pack, carried over the breasts, keeps down con¬ 
gestion of these glands, and lessens dangers of cak¬ 
ing and cracking. 

I do not advise bathing the infant for the first 
forty-eight hours. The custom of rubbing the new¬ 
born infant with olive oil is commendable, for not 
only does it soften the smegma, but it also assists 
in keeping the infant warm. 

I never advise an abdominal bandage about the 
infant. In a number of cases I have seen intestinal 
spasm, resulting from a tight bandage. All male 
children should have the fore-skin circumcised or 
withdrawn, as soon as the physician or midwife 
can spare time to attend to the infant. 

In Excessive Hemorrhage, when all other means 
fail, ice or ice water may excite contractions, but 
is inferior to compression. This compression is 
performed with one hand in the vagina, and the 
other grasping the fundus of the uterus thru the 
abdominal wall, strong pressure being made toward 
bringing the hands together. The failure to con¬ 
tract on the part of the womb in these cases is 
largely the lack of coordination, but with compres¬ 
sion to substitute the contraction of the longitud- 


122 Water in Disease and in Health 

inal muscles, the circular muscles will automatical¬ 
ly contract. 

The feeding of the infant, from a Ilydrothera- 
peutic standpoint, is important. In breast-fed 
children a teaspoonful of water preceding the 
breast not only serves to dilute the milk, and in 
this wise promote the emulsion of fats, but it also 
supplies additional mineral salts. In infants and 
also in adults, practically no saponified (solid) fats 
are absorbed,—they become only waste material 
in the stool. Much of the benefit claimed by the 
addition of Lime-Water or Milk of Magnesia lies 
not in counteracting the acidity of the stomach, 
but rather in the fact, that alkalinity promotes the 
suspension of oils in the emulsified form. Emul¬ 
sified fat can reach the blood in but moderate quan¬ 
tities, but saponified fat cannot be absorbed. 

The artificially fed child should not be crowded 
with fats. The addition of cream to the prepared 
bottle is not only a waste, but it is liable to upset 
the equilibrium of metabolism, and produce Rheu¬ 
matism or Intestinal Disorders. The benefit ob¬ 
tained from the addition of cream is from the in¬ 
creased quantities of sugar of milk. Carbohy¬ 
drates are more readily digested and absorbed than 
are fats. In all my infant cases where artificially 
fed, I diluted the milk content from fifty to twenty 
per cent with sterile water, and, in addition, skim- 


Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 123 

med the cream from the milk. However, supply 
sugar and starches liberally by the use of Mellin’s, 
Eskay’s or Imperial Granum prepared foods. My 
cases were practically free from bowel disorders 
and compared very favorably in growth and de¬ 
velopment with children otherwise fed. 


CHAPTER X 


Diseases of Children 

Tlie custom of encircling the new-born infant 
by the restricting bandage cannot be too earnestly 
condemned. The restriction is an unnatural one, 
interfering with free peristaltic movement of the 
undeveloped stomach and intestines', interfering 
with the passage and discharge of food and other 
gases. The grave apprehension of having the 
navel infected has probably been the origin of this 
custom and it is universally followed. In the ef¬ 
fort to overcome the constriction the long axis in 
the stomach not infrequently becomes displaced 
and we have an actual sagging with spasm of the 
pylorus. This is always followed by a long train 
of digestive disturbances. 

It must be borne in mind that infants with their 
great readiness to expel food from the stomach 
are naturally less prone to suffer stomach condit¬ 
ions than are adults. Consequently, it is highly 
necessary to seek some outside cause for digestive 
disturbances in children. Unfortunately most of 
our specialists in children’s diseases endeavor to 
correct these conditions by modifying the food 
rather than by eliminating the cause. In other 
words they seldom seek to correct any mal-position 

124 


Diseases of Children 


125 


within the Alimentary Canal. Foreign substances 
or decomposing matter are readily thrown off by 
infants in their vomit, and it is practically easy to 
feed the infant water in order to dilute this matter 
and more thoroughly cleanse the stomach. The 
stomach of the infant lies high within the abdom¬ 
inal cavity, normally and strange as it may seem, 
practically no stomach digestion is required in the 
infant, the main digestion being the splitting up 
of the fats which is obtained by the bile and pan¬ 
creatic juices in the small intestine. Therefore 
it should be the first rule in all conditions of 
digestive disorders in infants to cleanse the stom¬ 
ach by giving the infant water to drink and be 
vomited, and follow by the High Colon Irrigation 
and fairly brisk massage, more especially in the 
triangle immediately below the breastbone, and 
abstinence from food until all conditions have be¬ 
come relaxed within the Alimentary Canal. Keep¬ 
ing in mind the fact that the High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion reflexly evacuates the liver, it can be recog¬ 
nized that this stimulation of the liver vastly im¬ 
proves the digestive functions of the bile and pan¬ 
creatic juices, which in the infant, as I said before, 
are the main digestion. 

Contrary to the general conception, many fats 
are not well tolerated in the infant. A relative 
analysis of the intake and the output will indicate 
that in a normal healthy child less than five per 
cent, of the fats ingested are absorbed. The emul- 


126 


Water in Disease and in Health 


sion of milk is readily attacked and liberated in 
the presence of acids. (Alkali nes encourage emul¬ 
sion ; acids destroy them.) It has been my uniform 
rule to deprive the artificial feeding of as much 
fat as is possible in all deranged conditions of the 
stomach and intestines. By substituting the fats 
with a well cooked starch and a sugar we escape 
the destructive action of the acids on the fats in 
the stomach, and the pancreatic juices and bile 
readily convert these cooked starches or sugars 
into Glycogen or fat. Thirty odd years of substi¬ 
tuting the fats by the cooked starches and sugars 
has clinically satisfied me that they are superior 
to the animal fats found in the milks. While not 
advertising any particular brand of infants’ food 
I would say that practically any of them well boil¬ 
ed and strained meet all indications. In fact, in 
any condition of acrid stool, either with Constipa¬ 
tion or Diarrhea, and in most healthy children, 
I have followed the procedure of first skim¬ 
ming the milk, bringing it to a boil and adding 
equal parts of water with a fairly liberal amount 
of some well-cooked cereal, such as Mellin’s Pood. 
Eskay’s Pood, or Imperial Granum, with marked 
improvement in practically every case. 

In Chronic digestive diseases of children re¬ 
member that Malaria, being a blood disease, is 
capable of being transmitted to the infant before 
birth, and that children, as a rule, are more sus¬ 
ceptible to the acute manifestations of Malaria 


Diseases of Children 


127 


than are adults. Consequently, whenever the at¬ 
tacks of digestive disturbances come with period¬ 
icity, that is with intervals, it is strongly advisable 
to suspect Malaria as present and to supplement 
the treatment with remedies for Malaria. In fact 
during my early years of practice, it was my uni¬ 
form rule to search for Malarious complications in 
all conditions of digestive diseases of children. 

The process of boiling the milk has this addition¬ 
al advantage,—Certain of our milks are preserved 
by Formalin which the process of boiling drives 
oft in the shape of gas. Benzoate of Soda and 
Peroxide of Hydrogen also used, are rendered 
more benign in the process of boiling. Where 
the mucus discharge is persistent and extensive a 
few grains of Mucilage of Acacia added to the 
bottle of food, (because of the Tannic Acid it con¬ 
tains, which is set free by action of the bile), has 
a decidedly bland, astringent, and curative action 
on the lining membrane. 

The amount of food required by children has 
been a question, but we always have in mind that 
the infant readily vomits the food when given in 
excess, and, with this safety gauge, the quantity 
should play a much less important role than is ad¬ 
vised by most of our text-books. Again, it must 
be remembered that the only water the infant 
is given in the vast majority of cases is obtained 
from the milk and when we deprive the infant of 
a fairly liberal supply of this food we not only 


128 Water in Disease and in Health 

interfere with organic functions but retard devel¬ 
opment. 

If we observe the conduct of the infant animals 
with their mothers, we can see that seldom does 
the mother cow check her calf, or the sow, which 
like the human being is omnivorous, restrain her 
offspring either as to time or amount. While the 
calf will thrive on the mother’s milk directly ob¬ 
tained from the breast, yet this same calf will be¬ 
come emaciated from the same milk if it be obtain¬ 
ed fro mthe pail or the suckling bottle. So common 
is this knowledge that farmers, as a very general 
rule, feed all their sucklings skimmed milk with a 
small quantity of cereal added to it. To milk, the 
very presence of air, or the lack of motion, excites 
the lack of emulsion of the milk. The settling of 
the cream to the top of the bottle is evidence of 
this, and where the fatty acids are not properly 
emulsified they are irritating to the stomach and 
intestines and are capable of exciting deranged 
functions and inflammatory changes within the 
stomach and intestines. 

It was my custom to direct the parents to per¬ 
mit their children to drink all of the prepared foods 
they wished, but to let them be hungry before 
feeding again, and the splendid success that fol¬ 
lowed this procedure warrants my advising my 
readers to follow it. The use of lime water in the 
artificial food is none other than to neutralize the 
acid in the stomach, and in this way, moderate 


Diseases of Children 


129 


the fat-splitting effect of the acids. Unfort¬ 
unately alkalines have the property of increas¬ 
ing the acid flow in the stomach so that the very 
cure that is advised is in itself the cause of the 
condition. On the other hand, bland vegetables 
and fruits do not result in increased acidity and' 
they are capable of moderating the flow of acid. 
Sugar, which in rp.alj.ty is nothing other than a 
fruit or vegetable juice, is to be encouraged in con¬ 
ditions of Hyperacidity, and, in these conditions, 
instead of adding lime water to the artificial 
feeding, the amount of sugar added should be in¬ 
creased. Toleration of foods with an abundance 
of sugar will be extremely gratifying to the aver¬ 
age mother who has been feeding her child artific¬ 
ially. 

With infants, pain and spasm in and about the 
abdominal canal will be afforded much relief by 
the application of the Local Cold Wet Pack. It is 
quite inconvenient to give the infant the general 
Hot Cabinet Pack, and it is frequently impractical. 
The Hot Bed Pack to increase sweat and eliminate 
Malaria, as I will describe in my chapter on this 
disease, can be used to much advantage. However, 
Quinine in the form of Elixir of Calisaya, in doses 
of from twenty to thirty drops, combined with the 
simple Syrup of Rhubarb in one-half teaspoonful 
doses three times a day, was found to be practical. 


130 Water in Disease and in Health 

ERUPTIVE DISEASES 

Whenever the child experiences a sense of lazi¬ 
ness, headache with a chill and sneezing, and the 
skin feels hot and dry, it is advisable that the throat 
and mouth be inspected by the parent, and the 
child closely watched until recovery has taken 
place. The first evidences of eruptive diseases can 
be usually found in the tongue and gums and the 
fauces. The red tongue of Scarlet Fever is char¬ 
acteristic ; and the strawber ry appearance, the bot- 
chy puffed appearance of the tongue and gums in 
Measles, the redness of the tonsils and the pharynx 
of Diphtheria, are almost diagnostic of these dis¬ 
eases and, when present, the child should be im¬ 
mediately subjected to a High Colon Irrigation and 
put to bed. All eruptive diseases are infections 
which Nature, in her effort to eliminate, calls upon 
the skin as the first organ of elimination; so that it 
is very imperative that the child should not be ex¬ 
posed to wet or dampness or chilly atmosphere 
whereby the skin will be prevented, because of the 
chill, from eliminating the disease. Should this 
occur the function of elimination would be thrown 
back upon the other organs of elimination, that is, 
the kidneys the bowels and the lungs. Conse¬ 
quently, it can be readily recognized that Pneu¬ 
monia and Bronchitis, Measles or Nephritis (in¬ 
flammation of the kidneys) are largely due to the 
failure upon the part of the skin to perform the 


Diseases of Children 


131 


function of eliminating the disease. In all erup¬ 
tive diseases the skin should be encouraged to per¬ 
form its function to the utmost. The Hot Bed Pack 
with plenty of hot drinks will usually meet the in¬ 
dication. However wherever it is possible, it is 
highly advisable to use the Hot Cabinet Pack and 
to maintain this Hot Cabinet Pack for a minimum 
of five hours whether the case be that of Measles, 
Scarlet Fever, Smallpox, or Cowpox. Not infre¬ 
quently the infant will pass thru the complete 
stages of Scarlet Fever or Measles in an eight 
hours exposure to the Hot Cabinet Pack, and the 
following day be entirely free from all manifesta¬ 
tions of the disease. However, in Smallpox it is 
advisable to maintain the sweat for at least eight 
hours, or until the skin is all bleached out. My 
experience with this latter disease has not been ex¬ 
tensive for with general use of vaccination the 
prevalence of this disease has become quite extinct. 
In the three cases that I was able to use it on there 
were practically no scars nor pustules formed, altho 
in these three cases the diagnosis was verified by 
the Board of Health Experts. In one case, how¬ 
ever, the disease was not recognized and was taken 
for Pemphegis until I arrived and the pustules had 
already formed. However, these cases, after the 
sweat, were of brief duration. With the prolong¬ 
ed sweat all complicating manifestations, as a very 
general rule, will disappear. Bronchitis, Pneu¬ 
monia or Measles usually clear up within an hour 


132 Water in Disease and in Health 

after the sweat has begun. The same is true of 
Nephritis and manifestations of Scarlet Fever. 

DIPHTHERIA 

Not infrequently Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever 
present themselves at the same time. In this event, 
the Scarlet Fever should receive the first attention 
and the sweat should be maintained. However, 
Diphtheric conditions, as a very general rule, 
present themselves on the mucous membrane which 
lies near the skin, that is, — the tonsils and 
pharynx. 

In treating Diphtheria it must be borne in mind 
that all bacterial activity is checked by cold and 
stimulated by heat, up to a certain degree, (us¬ 
ually 110° Fhr.) and destroyed by intense heat 
(usually boiling point.) Consequently, our object 
in the treatment of Diphtheria is to delay and con¬ 
trol the development of the infection until there 
are sufficient Autogens developed in the system to 
destroy it. As I said before, the proximity of 
Diphtheric infections to the skin affords us op¬ 
portunity to bring ice in contact with the affect¬ 
ed parts. In other words, with appearance or 
even suspicion of Diphtheria the throat should 
be packed in a towel filled with cracked ice and 
the parts frozen thru. It was a rule in Dr. Guen¬ 
ther’s Sanitarium to maintain this Ice Pack for 
seventy-two hours. However, when complicated 
by Scarlet Fever the manifestations seemed to 


Diseases of Children 


133 


subside much more readily than otherwise, ap 
parently because of the antagonism that these in¬ 
fections entertain for each other. The Ice Pack 
should be preceded by the High Colon Irrigation. 

Where the membrane has already formed, a 
swab of fifty per cent, alcohol should be applied 
to the throat. The alcohol very readily penetrates 
the membrane and destroys the local infection. 
However, where the membrane is not thick this is 
not necessary. Occasionally, in these conditions 
there will be manifestations of collapse. Should 
this occur, application of ice over the heart is 
indicated, in order to secure proper muscular activ¬ 
ity of the heart muscles. 

The diet in Diphtheria should be essentially 
stimulating. The rapidity with which Diphtheria 
generates toxins demands this. Prom the very 
beginning of the disease Alcohol stands pre¬ 
eminent as the article of diet. In children, 
Sherry Wine diluted in fairly liberal quantities 
should be encouraged. In the more mature and in 
adults the Ginger Ale Highball is indicated. Al¬ 
cohol in itself is a disinfectant and destroys the 
process of infection which might possibly be car¬ 
ried out by its ingestion into the stomach. Again, 
Alcohol very readily oxidizes in the blood and re- 
flexly excites the demand for oxygen, and, in this 
way, is stimulating by increasing the intake of 
oxygen, consequently promoting more active vital¬ 
ity. The dangers of alcoholism in this disease are 


134 Water in Disease and in Health 

very slight, as Diphtheria usually reaches its max¬ 
imum stage before seventy-two hours have elapsed. 
Where the child or adult is fairly robust, Sugar 
added freely to the Alcohol will be found to be 
nourishing. Indiscriminate eating is not to be en¬ 
couraged as it places too much work upon the di¬ 
gestive system as well as carries the infection into 
the Alimentary Canal. 

The absence of fever in these cases is not alto¬ 
gether a good sign, as it frequently indicates pros¬ 
tration from the excess of toxins in the blood. In 
infants, keeping in mind that cold has the advant¬ 
age of checking the activity of the infection, after 
the acute manifestations have subsided, ice cream 
will serve as a substantial food with least menace. 
I prefer the creams with vegetable acid, and, for 
this reason, advise the use of lemon ice cream 
in preference to other flavors. Citric acid in it¬ 
self has a mild Antiseptic action. The use of 
Diphtheric Antitoxin has become imperative 
under the laws of The Health Department. It is 
inferior to the ice treatment in that we have the 
menace of infection or poisoning from Antitoxin 
as well as the pain and the shock of the drug. The 
merits of Antitoxin have been discussed in a pre¬ 
vious chapter and require no repetition here. 

WHOOPING COUGH 

Altho this disease is looked upon as generally 
being benign, statistics prove that it is not infre- 


Diseases of Children 


135 


quently fatal in its termination. Extreme spasms 
throw great strain upon the heart, lungs and ab¬ 
dominal organs. Authorities differ as to whether 
this should be considered as a pulmonary disease 
or as a disease of stomach origin. Arguments 
greatly favor the latter probabilities. It is char¬ 
acteristic that after the vomit all evidences of the 
condition disappear. The Hydrotherapeutic Treat¬ 
ment of this disease is to encourage as much rest 
to the stomach as possible. Frequent drinking of 
cool water in order to promote emesis or vomit 
aids in promptly relieving the symptoms. Mas¬ 
sage over the pylorus reflexly results in relaxation 
and moderately lessens the frequency of the par¬ 
oxysm. Where, as the result of the whoop, the 
bronchial tubes become congested (and this con¬ 
dition is a frequent accompanying factor of the 
disease) the use of the local Cold Wet Pack at 
night on retiring is not only useful to moderate 
the symptoms, but to prevent Pneumonic develop¬ 
ment. 

In cases of marked severity I have seen almost 
complete cure result from the use of the prolonged 
Hot Cabinet Pack where the child sweated freely 
for four or five hours. Where it can be done with¬ 
out exciting paroxysm, lavage of the stomach with 
a mild antiseptic has met with splendid results. 
However, do not forget that the tube is very apt 
to excite a reflex spasm and bring on a paroxysm. 
At the first manifestation of paroxysm the tube 


136 Water in Disease and in Health 

should be withdrawn . As a general rule, this 
measure, while extremely salutary in its results, 
is too delicate to be used except in the hands of an 
expert. In young children the Hot Cabinet Pack 
is advisable. 

Most Medical Authorities encourage the child 
to have plenty of fresh air and to go about playing 
in order to increase his general vigor to carry him 
on thru the exhaustion of the disease. This should 
be done with moderation, and it must be borne in 
mind that the disease in itself throws a great strain 
upon the heart, and the child should be encouraged 
to take as much rest as possible, preferably in a 
prone position in order to rest this vital organ. 
Children should not be encouraged to run and vig¬ 
orously play while they have this disease. Before 
the child retires at night it is strongly advisable 
that he be given plenty of water to drink and mas¬ 
sage be vigorously performed over the abdomen. 
This will probably excite a paroxsym and the stom : 
ach contents will be thrown off, affording free 
clensing of the stomach and a general relaxed 
condition. This will further enable the child 
to rest better during the night. The grave 
question in cases of Whooping Cough is the effect 
it has upon the right heart, and while children or 
adults should be permitted to have modest exer¬ 
cise in the open air at all times, care should be 
taken that the patient does not become over exert¬ 
ed and has ample opportunity for rest, and any 


Diseases of Children 


137 


medicine that is in any way irritating to the 
stomach should be avoided. 

The diet in Whooping Cough requires special 
attention. Citrus foods in themselves are mild 
antiseptics and the same can be said of fruits and 
vegetables that contain lactic or malic acid. Con¬ 
sequently, the child should be encouraged to eat 
freely of cooked vegetables and cooked fruits. 
Sugar also has a mild preservative action as well 
as being non-irritating to the stomach, and all 
foods should be thoroughly sweetened. On the 
other hand, all spices and especially foods like 
onions, tomatoes and coffee shoul be avoided. Milk, 
unquestionably, should be denied children because 
of the excessive acidity in the stomach which is 
generally found in these cases. Again, milk is a 
fruitful field for the cultivation of the bacteria of 
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) on the fauces and in 
the stomach of the patient. The same is also true 
of eggs. Again the free use of cooked fruits and 
vegetables have a mild action, draining off the 
liver and reflexly soothing the stomach spasm. 

The graver types of children’s diseases require 
identical attention with those of adults and the 
same principles will apply in the treatment of 
them 

URTICARIA OR HIVES—NETTLE RASH 

This disease owes its origin to a chemical source, 
in contrast with the bacterial origin of Measles 


138 


Water in Disease and in Health 


and Scarlatina. Here the sweat affords only tem¬ 
porary relief, unless supplemented by other meas¬ 
ures. The origin of this chemical abnormality will 
be found in the digestive canal and in the food. 
Vegetable foods are almost as prone to generate 
this excess of irritating acids as are meats and fish. 
High Colon Irrigation should supplement the 
sweat. 

A prolonged exclusive diet of diluted milk over 
a period of several weeks will be found valuable 
in this trouble. The addition of powdered chalk 
or Milk of Magnesia to the milk will neutralize 
somewhat the irritating acids in the stomach and 
intestines. 


CHOLERA INFANTUM 

This disease is extremely prevalent in all sec¬ 
tions of the United States. It is a disease of warm 
weather, as a rule, existing in milk-fed children. 
The stool shows liberated saponified fatty acids in 
abundance, together with large numbers of lactic 
bacilli and streptococcus and swarms of colon 
bacilli. 

In distilled water all these bacteria are prac¬ 
tically inert. Therefore, in from 72 to 96 hours, 
in a distilled water medium, they lose their char¬ 
acteristics and die. This indicates the use of dis¬ 
tilled water, "both by drinking and by colon irriga¬ 
tion. Care should be taken to equalize the circula¬ 
tion by keeping the blood moving freely in the 


Diseases of Children 


139 


vessels of the skin. When the collapse is not pro¬ 
nounced the use of the Cold Wet Pack, extending 
from the neck to the knees of the infant, is indicat¬ 
ed. However, where the collapse is pronounced, 
the HotDry Pack should be used. 

In an infant of one year and under, the hips 
should be elevated and a half pint of warm water 
should be injected. This should he repeated three 
or four times within twenty-four hours. The in¬ 
fant should be encouraged or even forced to drink 
water from the spoon or nursing bottle every half 
hour. In most cases, the addition of sugar will 
induce the child to drink freely of the water. 

All milk should be withheld until the stools are 
free from the characteristic sour fatty odor, or 
until the microscope shows a return of the normal 
amount of the lactic bacilli. 

The feeding of children under two years of age 
during the hot months should be with the idea 
of maintaining the fats or fatty acids in the bland¬ 
est state. Nursing mothers should drink freely 
of water before nursing. Artificially fed children 
should have the sugars substituted for the fats as 
far as possible, keeping it in mind that sugars are 
more readily digested and assimilated than fats. 
Sugars are not only poor fields for the culture of 
bacteria, but are actually destructive to bacterial 
life. The preservative quality of sugar is known to 
every housewife, yet this preservative power in no 
way retards the digestive enzymes. Again, the very 


140 Water in Disease and in Health 

presence of sugar will promote diastatic conver¬ 
sion of starches into sugar. The sugar of barley is 
particularly well tolerated by the digestive systems 
of infants -under two years of age, as is also pure 
maple sugar. 

In these conditions, it must be remembered that 
the internal congestion of the lungs and air pass¬ 
ages materially interferes with the supply and the 
discharge of gases from the blood. Therefore it 
is highly imperative that fresh air be admitted to 
the patient at all stages of the disease. 

INFANTILE CONVULSIONS 

The vast majority of cases of Infantile Convul¬ 
sions are due to gastro-intestinal disturbance. In 
these cases, the High Colon Irrigation should be 
vigorously practiced, with the hips of the infant 
well elevated. In those cases in which it is impos¬ 
sible to evacuate the stomach by tickling the throat, 
the stomach tube should be passed thru the nostril 
and the stomach thoroughly cleansed. 

MUMPS 

Mumps is a disease in which Nature attempts to 
throw off the infection thru the Salivary Glands, 
whence the excretion is ultimately eliminated thru 
the colon. The Hydrotherapeutic treatment in 
these conditions consists of the High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion, followed by the Hot Dry Pack of five hours 
duration. This procedure will render the attack 
mild and of very moderate duration. 


CHAPTER XI 
Coughs and Colds 

It is wise to begin the discussion of these fre¬ 
quent infections by impressing the fact that the 
Cough and the muscular lameness (Colds) are not 
in themselves disease but are merely prominent 
manifestations of disease. 

Because of the fact that fully 90 per cent, of 
these so-called Coughs and Colds in their acute 
manifestations are of short duration they are gen¬ 
erally looked upon as being insignificant. The 
custom of the hot drink, the Quinine capsule and a 
sweat in bed has been so uniformly beneficial in 
these cases that rarely is a physician called upon 
to give them his professional attention, and it is 
only when the underlying cause or disease mani¬ 
fests itself and is progressing in severity that the 
physician is called in. 

Fundamentally, it must be borne in mind that 
while Coughs and Colds are usually simple and of 
short duration they are fairly frequently but mani¬ 
festations of some grave disease, and it is very im¬ 
portant that just so long as the patient feels a 
sense of weariness and exhaustion that he remain 
in bed either until he has become refreshed and 
invigorated or until more severe manifestations 
present themselves. 


141 


142 


Water in Disease and in Health 


The Cold that presents itself following exposure 
is always accompanied by an internal congestion. 
This congestion may be of such grave nature as to 
interfere with the functioning of the lungs and 
produce Pulmonitis, Pleurisy or Pneumonia. 
Bronchitis is a very frequent result, and so common 
that it is generally understood that a Cold is always 
accompanied by a Bronchial cough. 

This fact being realized, it can be readily under¬ 
stood that the first step in correcting this condition 
should be to relieve the internal congestion by pro¬ 
ducing Cutaneous Hyperaemia (skin congestion). 
The various means of producing Cutaneous Hy- 
peraemia can be followed with satisfactory out¬ 
come according to the preference of the patient. 
The Local Cold Wet Pack, in which a hand towel 
is dipped into cold water and spread over the chest 
and abdomen and covered by a bath towel with the 
bed clothes well drawn up, is the most efficient. Oc¬ 
casionally it will be found advisable to change this 
Pack every two hours. This should be preceded 
by a High Colon Irrigation, the technique of which 
is described in a previous chapter. Water should 
be given freely to drink, and free ventilation of air 
assured. 

The Hot Dry Pack commonly used to produce 
a sweat is usually sufficient. This should be pre¬ 
ceded by a High Colon Irrigation and accom¬ 
panied by free drinking of water. The addition 
of alcohol to the hot drink has the effect of dilating 


Coughs and Colds 


143 


the skin blood-vessels and in this way increases the 
rapidity with which the sweat is arrived at. How¬ 
ever, alcohol internally is not necessary and not 
infrequently will produce nausea in those unac¬ 
customed to its use. It is not advisable to have the 
sweat pronounced in these cases as we do not wish 
to bring about too severe a reaction. The method 
of applying the Hot Dry Pack has been described 
in a previous chapter and does not require repeti¬ 
tion here. 

In conditions where the cough is profound and 
the menace of actual inflammatory changes, either 
in the shape of Pneumonia or Pleurisy, are sus¬ 
pected, the Cold Wet Pack should be used and, 
when accompanied by fever, should be changed 
at fairly frequent intervals. It has been my custom 
where the temperature was found to be above 103 
degrees, to change the Pack every hour for the 
first three or four hours until all acute manifesta¬ 
tions had subsided. 

The use of drugs in these conditions can not be 
too strongly condemned. The habit of taking Aspir¬ 
in or Quinine to break up a Cold is very liable to re¬ 
sult in masking the actual condition, while again 
it adds to the shock and depletion of the vital 
powers already taxed by the disease. Frequently, 
a physician is unable to make a diagnosis of the 
actual condition because of the complex symptoms 
resulting from the drugs. I have seen cases of 
Bromine eruption mistaken for the rash of Ty- 



144 Water in Disease and in Health 

plioid; the skin eruption of measles delayed and 
the case diagnosed as Pneumonia because of the 
free use of Paregoric to relieve the infant’s cough; 
Gastritis which was nothing other than the irrita¬ 
tion of the drug, etc., etc. 

The cough, the cold and the exhaustion are symp¬ 
toms, and we must be alert to discover whether or 
not they are symptoms of some graver disease, 
and by simple methods afford them opportunity 
to correct themselves. These methods must be 
such that will be beneficial in rendering any under¬ 
lying disease less severe. Water, being a natural 
element, and used in such a way as to promote the 
best natural efforts to correct disease, is in no way 
harmful in any condition and fortifies Nature to 
accommodate herself to any emergency that may 
arise. 

The sense of exhaustion is the danger sign that 
we all must heed. It is the constant symptom of 
Typhoid Fever, most conditions of Malaria and of 
Auto-Intoxication. It is very imperative that just 
so long as the sense of weariness is experienced the 
patient have rest in bed. Many a leaking heart 
valve owes its origin to the fact that the patient 
ignored this sense of weariness and developed, as 
a consequence of his Auto-Intoxication, Rheumatic 
conditions in the blood and in the heart walls. 

Where the sense of fatigue persists the High 
Colon Irrigation should be repeated at every twelve 
hours interval. The night and morning bowel 


Goughs and Colds 


145 


wash is advisable. The diet in Coughs and Colds 
does not require much consideration unless they be 
accompanied by stomach symptoms. A patient rest¬ 
ing in bed and not using up his reserved vital forces 
to the same extent that he would were he actively 
engaged in his occupation, requires much less 
nourishment than otherwise. In fact the absence 
of appetite is a very frequent accompanying symp¬ 
tom and just so long as the patient does not desire 
food, a very good rule to follow is to not encourage 
him to eat. Again, because of the menace that the 
Cold may be nothing other than an early manifes¬ 
tation of Typhoid, it is advisable to abstain from 
the coarser foods, such as raw fruits and vege¬ 
tables. On the other hand well-cooked fruits and 
vegetables, by their action of promoting the activ¬ 
ity of the liver and the flow of the bile, are to be 
encouraged even in cases suspected of being of 
Typhoid origin. 

Eggs are to be avoided because of their proness 
to be mediums of bacterial cultivation within the 
intestines. It must be kept in mind that a patient 
lying in bed in a condition of semi-invalidism does 
not have the same freedom of excretion of the 
alimentary contents as when active, and conse¬ 
quently decomposition within the intestines is more 
apt to become pronounced. I have seen cases of 
Acute Inflammatory Rheumatism follow a rest in 
bed from a Cold, resulting from the excessive use 
of whiskey and eggs. The so-called egg-nog must 


146 


Water in Disease and in Health 


be advised against. On the other hand, I have 
been a convert to the free use of cooked fruits in 
the shape of apple-sauce, compotes made of rhu¬ 
barb and apples, of pears and oranges, etc. 

Mashed potatoes and milk with the free use of 
salt are very meritorious. Raw and rare meats 
should not be used. 

The habit of visiting the sick during the acute 
stages should be condemned, more particularly 
when the patient suffers from an irritating Cough. 
The natural instinct to maintain a conversation 
adds materially to the irritation of the Bronchial 
Tubes as well as to the exhaustion of the patient, 
and Nature should be left alone in her efforts to 
correct any abnormality. Pollen of plants, as well 
as the aroma, is very apt to irritate the congested 
Bronchial Tubes and it is strongly advisable that 
flowers should not be permitted in the sick-room. 

Should the patient suddenly develop a prolonged 
chill, it must be recognized that this chill means 
nothing other than the involvement of the lungs, 
with strong probabilities of Pneumonia as the out¬ 
come. While this condition is usually prevented 
by means of the Cold Wet Pack, yet if it should 
occur in spite of the use of the said Pack, the in¬ 
dications then are for some more vigorous treat¬ 
ment. The Wet Pack should be removed and the 
Hot Dry Pack, or, better, the Hot Cabinet Pack, 
substituted and a vigorous sweat induced. The 


Coughs and Colds 


147 


Treatment of Pneumonia will be more elaborately 
detailed in a future chapter. 

If, in spite of rest, the use of the Cold Wet Pack, 
and moderate diet, the sense of exhaustion persists 
accompanied by a full headache, after three or four 
days Typhoid Fever will probably manifest itself. 
On the other hand if after the second day we have 
a return of the symptoms, then we know we are 
dealing with Malarious infection. 

The danger of a cool atmosphere is generally 
exaggerated. The cooler the atmosphere the more 
condensed it is the greater is its oxygen con¬ 
tent, and when we close the window and heat the 
room we throw additional labor upon the vital 
forces in their efforts to obtain sufficient oxygen. 
While the results may be somewhat alarming be¬ 
cause of the open window and the cool room, the 
outcome will not only be much quicker but with 
far less depletion than otherwise. Even in Pneu¬ 
monia, the cold room is the best. 

In considering the question of atmosphere and 
temperature in the sick room the basic principle 
should ever be considered, that is, that disease in 
any form is a deviation from the normal workings 
and co-workings of the various organs and systems 
composing the body, and that Nature’s effort must 
be to meet the demands of this abnormal condition 
and thru vital means, correct it. Therefore any¬ 
thing which will throw further labor upon the 
heart and lungs is to be avoided. 


148 Water in Disease and in Health 

It is a well-known fact that Typhoid Fever cases 
being carried to the hospital are far more fatal than 
those that are left in the same environment in 
which the disease found them. 

In 1914, during an epidemic of Typhoid Fever, 
at Long Beach I had twenty-eight cases of Ty¬ 
phoid Fever that I insisted upon remaining upon 
the porches of their bungalows night and day, with 
no medication other than Spring Water (Poland) 
and the disease ran a very moderate form almost 
simulating Paratyphoid. 

In contrast, with those cases that were removed 
to the hospital in the city, the disease assumed a 
very grave type and some cases a fatal termina¬ 
tion. 

There will be among the readers of this book 
some who are not familiar with the circulation of 
the lungs. For these I would like to explain in 
simple terms that the circulation of the lungs 
really is the blood as it is returned from the vari¬ 
ous tissues, being pumped by the right side of the 
heart thru the lungs, where it has opportunity for 
the carbonic gases to escape and unite with the 
oxygen of the air, as well as for the fluid portion of 
the blood to absorb oxygen. 

In the air we have two main gases which are free. 
These gases are nitrogen and oxygen and there is 
about three times the amount of nitrogen that there 
is of oxygen. In other words the chemical formula 


Coughs and Colds 


149 


of air is N 3 +0. The more condensed or cooler 
the air, the more free oxygen is contained. 

Oxygen, after respiration, is combined with the 
carbonic gases of the blood in the form of Carbon 
Dioxide, CO 2 . So that the atmosphere that has 
not been freshly supplied with oxygen contains 
much less oxygen than otherwise, and not only is 
an excessive amount of effort required to secure 
the necessary amount of oxygen in the blood, but 
also we are very apt to not obtain enough oxygen 
to permit a sufficient passage of the waste gases 
of the blood. 

Thus, it can be readily seen that, in disease, not 
only does a lack of fresh air throw an extra amount 
of labor on the lungs and heart; but, it is also very 
prone to prevent a sufficient passage of the poison¬ 
ous air and waste gases of the blood. 

While it is true that frequently cold air will 
increase the irritation of a cough, yet of the two 
evils, the lack of oxygen is the greater. 

Again, oxidation is one of the means of destroy¬ 
ing infection, and the very excessive oxygen that 
is being inhaled in local conditions in the air pass¬ 
ages is the means of destroying an infection. 

By maintaining the increased blood in the skin 
by means of the Hot Dry Pack, or Cold Wet Pack, 
there is practically no danger of increasing the area 
of involvement in the Bronchial Tubes and in the 
lungs, because of exposure to cool or cold air. 
Heedless to say, it is advisable to protect against 


150 Water in Disease and in Health 

a direct draft because of the disturbance of the 
air pressure upon the tissues. 

The evils of dust are exaggerated. Thruout the 
nose and upper air passages we have millions of 
hairlike projections that filter the air of all par¬ 
ticles of dust and dirt. Did any of this dust reach 
the upper air chambers, the element of sneezing 
would immediately and violently expel the same. 
So that the fear of fresh air, on account of the 
dangers of dust being in the same, should have 
little or no place in the sick room. 

In event of rain or stormy weather an excess of 
water in the atmosphere retards its absorption by 
the blood. Consequently, much benefit can be ob¬ 
tained by partially drying the air in the room by 
means of a fire. A simple procedure on a rainy day 
is having a gas jet or an oil lamp burning near the 
open window. In conditions where we have ir¬ 
ritation and inflammatory changes in the air 
passage this is a decided benefit. 

In conclusion, it should be kept in mind that the 
Cough or Cold may be nothing other than an early 
manifestation of a grave disease, and when the 
simple means fail to correct the condition a person 
should be alert for developments. 


CHAPTER XII 
Malaria 

Malaria is a disease which is usually attributed 
to the tropics. While the character of the Malaria 
is usually more virulent in the hot climates, it is 
extremely prevalent thruout the Temperate Zone. 
In fact it is my conviction that of all diseases com¬ 
bined to which the human frame is subject, Ma¬ 
laria is the most abundant. 

A book of this character will only permit of 
brief discussion of a disease, as it is written largely 
for the correction of sickness rather than a de¬ 
scription of its symptoms. 

Briefly speaking, Malaria is a blood disease. 
The germ (plasmodia) locates in the red cell of 
the blood and derives its nourishment from this 
cell. When the germ is ready to propagate it leaves 
the red cell and enters the blood stream. Here it 
breaks into various other germs and this is what 
is termed a paroxysm and the period when the 
patient has the chill. With more or less rapidity 
these new germs attach themselves to the red cells 
and when they are deeply embodied in the cell the 
interval of paroxysm is arrived at. 

There have been isolated some twelve to fifteen 
different varieties of the malarial germ. It is what 
is termed the Protozoa Type. In other words, it 

151 


152 Water in Disease and in Health 

does not generate autogens or antitoxins that in 
themselves are destructive to the germ. Conse¬ 
quently Malaria is not a self-limited disease. The 
fact that it is a blood disease in which the red cell 
is being constantly destroyed requires no stretch 
of imagination to recognize that the results of Ma¬ 
laria are found in almost every organ and tissue in 
the body. The red cell is the oxygen-carrying cell 
of the blood and with diminished supply of ox¬ 
ygen, Anemia and degenerative changes are pro¬ 
gressive and constant. The system suffers from 
oxygen hunger and exhaustion from the labor 
of introducing sufficient oxygen. Consequently, 
as the condition progresses and becomes chron¬ 
ic, exhaustion and fatigue are constant factors. 
The condensed air of the seashore affords 
greater oxygen and as a consequence these patients 
always improve in health and vigor when they ap¬ 
proach the Sea-Level. It is a very common occur¬ 
rence for the emigrant girls leaving home and com¬ 
ing into locations where the oxygen is less free as 
in urban localities, to become emaciated and de¬ 
pleted, and to lose their vigor and healthy color. 
So common is this that it is looked upon as usual, 
and, in many of the textbooks, described as the re¬ 
sult of the ocean trip or travel. Fundamentally, 
these girls were affected with Malaria and in the 
open farm country were able to stand the depleted 
oxygen content, but in a lessened oxygen atmos¬ 
phere became exhausted. 


Malaria 


153 


A conservative estimate of the presence of Ma¬ 
laria in some form among our population can be 
placed at thirty per cent. This is based upon close 
observation extending over many years, of the 
blood and spleen of my patients. Of this thirty 
per cent, it is fair to conclude that less than ten per 
cent, of them suffering from some form of Malaria 
recognize this disease as the cause of their depleted 
condition. 

The acute manifestations of Malaria are known 
to all of us. The chill to a greater or lesser degree 
of severity, followed by the fever, then the sweat 
followed by the interval between the paraoxysm. 
It is my conviction that over fifty per cent, of the 
so-called colds that are relieved by a hot drink, a 
rest in bed and possibly five grains of Quinine, 
followed by a fairly efficient sweat, are nothing 
other than a malarial manifestation of a malarious 
attack. Some authorities class Malaria as a fall 
disease, coming largely thru the months of Sep¬ 
tember, October and November. This is due largely 
to the fact that while the initial infection may be 
small in quantity it will require several weeks or 
even months, before it will develop and accumu¬ 
late to be of sufficient severity to have a marked 
effect upon the human frame. The bite of the 
mosquito, the bed bug, the flea or even the fly, may 
carry this germ . Malaria may be carried from one 
patient to another by the patient having Malaria 
being bitten by some insect, and this insect in turn 


154 Water in Disease and in Health 

biting another patient. Anything is liable to afford 
entrance of the germ into the blood, a scratch of 
a finger nail is ample avenue for the infection. 
From a Hydrotherapeutic standpoint the treat¬ 
ment of Malaria is to eliminate the Plasmodia and 
to increase the oxygen powers of the blood. Nature 
has indicated that the skin, because of the relief 
afforded by the sweat in the acute stages, is the 
avenue of elimination . The severity with which 
one undergoes the elimination of Malaria by means 
of the Hot Pack or the Hot Cabinet Pack should 
depend largely upon the toleration of the patient. 
Free access to the air, as described in the use of 
the Hot Cabinet Pack and lying in a prone posi¬ 
tion, frequently will enable the Malarial Patient 
to tolerate with comfort the Hot Cabinet Pack for 
four or five hours, and, in a fairly robust patient, 
considerably longer. Sunshine excites activity in 
the oxygen atoms of the atmosphere and with this 
increased activity the diffusibility of these gases 
is increased, with the result that increased oxida¬ 
tion occurs in the blood from inhaling these active 
oxygen molecules. (This is the reason why pa¬ 
tients having Chronic Malaria always feel miser¬ 
able in damp weather where there is lessened sun¬ 
shine.) 

It is a physiological fact that oxygen is com¬ 
bined largely in the red cell with Iron in the form 
of Oxyhaemoglobin, and with destruction of the 
red cell, Nature is also deprived of its iron. Apart 


Malaria 


155 


from the disinfectant action on the actual germ 
itself, certain herbs are capable of supplying in¬ 
creased iron to the blood. Because of this fact the 
Hydropath is justified in prescribing certain foods 
or certain so-called drugs as foods. Quinine stands 
prominent in this line. The former method as used 
by the South American Indian was to take a piece 
of the bark of the Cinchona Tree and boil it for 
many hours until a concentrated decoction was 
rendered. The same is true of the early Romans 
who boiled the bark of the Eucalyptus Tree to 
meet the ravages of Malaria. The North American 
Indian used the bark of the Hydrasta Plant. Aloes 
also, supply a fairly liberal amount of iron. So 
much benefit may be added to the Hydrothera- 
peutic Treatment of these conditions by feeding 
the patient these iron producing herbs. The boil¬ 
ing does not set free resins and consequently we 
have practically no toxic or depleting action from 
the watery decoction obtained by boiling the va¬ 
rious barks. Iron and other tannates require that 
the bark be boiled for many hours. Pounding the 
Peruvian Bark or the Cinchona-Bark will aid in 
loosening up the fibers, Ground Cinchona-Bark 
more readily effects results. These various harks 
should he hoiled at least twelve hours and drawn 
off and fed systematically to the patient. 

Additional diet in Malarious conditions requires 
special attention. Keeping in mind the fact that 
every organ is sub-normal because of the anaemic 


156 Water in Disease and in Health 

condition of the blood, the activity of these organs 
should be encouraged. These are the cases that, 
above all others, thrive on the Skimmed milk diet. 
After the cream has been removed from the milk 
these patients should be encouraged to drink freely 
of from one to five quarts of Skimmed milk a day. 
With the removal of the fats there will be prac¬ 
tically little or no disturbance of the liver and in¬ 
testines because of this food. The excess of water 
is directly stimulating to glandular activity thru- 
out the entire canal, while the stomach and intes¬ 
tines should not be taxed, in their weakened con¬ 
dition, by being required to digest and assimilate 
heavy meals. Cooked starches, well sugared, should 
supplement the diet. It has been argued that be¬ 
cause of the depleted condition of the blood, and 
the fact that the Glycogen coming from Nitrogen¬ 
ous foods is more easily oxidized than is the ox¬ 
ygen coming from Carbohydrates, the food should 
consist largely of meats, eggs, etc. Keeping in 
mind the fact that we desire, in these conditions, 
to maintain a fair degree of glandular activity, 
the arguments are againts the use of meat diet 
in Malaria. Meats, and eggs are fruitful fields for 
bacterial culture and with the depleted action of 
the liver ever present in Malaria, and secretion of 
the bile, which is the disinfectant of the intestinal 
canal, we are apt to supplement Malarious infec¬ 
tion through Auto-Intoxication by the excessive use 
of eggs and meat. A fair routine in cases of Chronic 


Malaria 


157 


Malaria accompanied by Anaemia would be the 
daily liberal drink of a decoction made from the 
Peruvian Bark and from tivo to six quarts of Skim¬ 
med milk a day, indulgence in cooked fruit and 
vegetables, and weekly, or semi-weekly, a three 
hour exposure to the Hot Cabinet Pack. In acute 
conditions, however, where the patient is fairly 
rugged, the Hot Cabinet Pack should be promptly 
given and maintained for from five to seven hours, 
keeping in mind that the patient be in a prone po¬ 
sition and have free access to the open window . 

In treating chronic conditions it must be remem¬ 
bered that the tendency of this disease is always 
progressive and that the subsiding of the symp¬ 
toms is not a positive indication that all the germs 
have been eradicated, and the treatment should be 
persisted in for weeks and even months. The 
symptom that should be the criterion in this case 
is the sense of weariness . Just so long as the pa¬ 
tient tires easily and has a periodical sense of ex¬ 
haustion, the treatment should be maintained. 

As Malaria is so frequently the under-lying 
cause of so many conditions, I will reserve further 
information in the treatment of, this disease to be 
included in the discussion of the other ailments. 


CHAPTER XIII 


Typhoid Fever 

The treatment of Typhoid Fever by water has 
received more recognition than any other disease 
being treated by this method. It is now almost a 
uniform custom in the schools of learning to ad¬ 
vocate the treatment of this disease exclusively by 
water, with the result that fatalities are now ex¬ 
tremely rare, in contrast with former times when 
the death rate was fairly high. There is much 
criticism given as to the frequent uses of water as 
practiced in some of our institutions, and I will 
endeavor to discuss these improper uses of water 
in this Chapter. 

Typhoid Fever is usually epidemical in char¬ 
acter. Wliever there is an epidemic of Typhoid 
and the patient begins to feel a grave sense of ex¬ 
haustion with occasional slight chill and headache 
involving the entire head and nosebleed, the early 
manifestations of Typhoid should be suspected and 
precaution against grave complication undertaken, 
precaution against grave complications under¬ 
taken. The symptoms of Typhoid Fever are usually 
very conflicting during the first week. The sense of 
exhaustion is persistent and constant even when 
lying in a prone position, especially if accompanied 

158 


Typhoid Fever 


159 


by headache, pain and tenderness in the region of 
the groin. Slight fever in the Pall or Spring of the 
year should excite suspicion of Typhoid and it is 
during these early manifestations that we can best 
modify the course of the disease. 

Typhoid Fever is in reality an infection of the 
Glands (Peyers) found at the end of the Small In¬ 
testine and in and about the Caecum. A refer¬ 
ence to the diagram of the locations of the digestive 
tract will advise the patient as to the location of 
these parts. 

Another prominent symptom is the loss of ap¬ 
petite, the patient frequently finding all foods and 
the aroma of cooking offensive to him. With the 
early manifestations of this disease, rest in bed 
and abstinence from food is indicated. Water in 
the Alimentary Canal should be constant and abun¬ 
dant. The patient should first be submitted to 
the High Colon Irrigation, even if Diarrheal mani¬ 
festations be evident. The daily use of the High 
Colon Irrigation will frequently render all mani¬ 
festations of Typhoid Fever extremely bland. With 
the abstinence from food the Osmotic pressure of 
the water in the digestive tract is directed more 
towards the cavity of the stomach and intestines 
up until it reaches the Ascending and Traverse 
Colons, and in this way the blood is drained from 
in and about the inflamed and ulcerated Peyers 
Patches . 


160 Water in Disease and in Health 

In practically ninety-five per cent, of cases of 
Typhoid Fever, following the use of the High 
Colon Irrigation, the drinking of a glass of Sterile 
Water, every hour, and resting in bed will render 
the condition bland. However, as supplemental to 
this treatment the use of the Cold Wet Pack, ap¬ 
plied from the throat to the knees, over the chest 
and abdomen, and changed at every hour or two 
hours interval, will be ample to additionaly check 
the inflammatory changes in and about the Peyers 
Glands. It must be borne in mind that given op¬ 
portunity, Nature will generate Autogens in this 
disease that are destructive to any other infection 
that may find entrance into the blood or the se¬ 
cretions, and not infrequently after the second 
week it is impossible to find any chemical or 
microscopic evidence of the disease in the stool, 
blood or urine. The period of abstinence from food 
should extend at least four to five days from the 
onset of the disease. At the expiration of the 
fourth or fifth day, Skimmed Milk diluted with 
Sterile Water will afford considerable nourishment 
and will not interfere with the Osmotic action we 
wish to maintain in the Alimentary Canal. Fats 
such as we find in cream are rapidly broken up 
into other component acids and are extremely 
irritating to the intestines. After ten days the 
diet should be largely restricted to well cooked Car¬ 
bohydrates. The custom of feeding oatmeal gruel 
diluted with Skimmed Milk should be encouraged. 


Typhoid Fever 


161 


and well cooked and strained fruits are tolerated. 
Potatoes, baked and given opportunity to dry, and 
softened by Skimmed Milk or fresh Buttermilk 
can be given after the first week. 

Frequently, the disease assumes a grave type be¬ 
fore it is recognized. The ulceration in the Peyers 
Gland results in a serious Diarrheal manifesta¬ 
tion, prostration, and congested conditions in and 
about the lungs and Bronchial Tubes, and not 
rarely the condition becomes recognized as Typhoid 
Pneumonia. The danger in these conditions is the 
possibility of the ulcerated glands perforating thru 
the walls of the intestine. These are conditions 
that require quite heroic measures. The Heart 
should be strengthened by the application of ice 
over the Apex. Osmosis should be encouraged by 
the use of Distilled Water and all foods abstained 
from. It is frequently impossible because of the 
rapidity with which the contents of the colon are 
discharged to practice the High Colon Irrigation. 
Supplemental to the Water used as food, Alcohol 
should be employed in these cases. The custom of 
giving the patient a glass of Distilled Water and a 
teaspoonful of Grain Alcohol and a Teaspoonful 
of Sugar at every hour or two hours interval 
should be practiced during grave stages. The 
benefits of this method of feeding has been dis¬ 
cussed in the chapter on Pulmonary Diseases and 
requires no repetition here. Where the fever as¬ 
sumes a virulent type and the respiratory organs 


162 Water in Disease and in Health 

are laboring markedly to obtain, oxygen, the Gen¬ 
eral Cold Wet Pack is to be used in place of the 
Local Cold Wet Pack. This is simply because of 
the increased effects obtained. The custom of giving 
the patient a Cold Tub Bath cannot be too severe¬ 
ly condemned. The shock of driving the blood 
internally by this contact with the water is danger¬ 
ous. Again, with the reaction and in presence of 
water such as we have in the Cold Wet Pack, there 
is no opportunity for osmotic action or even sweat. 
The cold coil placed over the abdomen is also to 
be condemned. This custom was used when I was 
a student and its action is to drive the blood from 
the skin and maintain the blood from the skin, 
necessarily driving the blood into the internal or¬ 
gans and adding to the congestion. The fact that 
it lessened the pain in and about the region of the 
disease led many physicians to advocate it, not rec¬ 
ognizing the fact that the prolonged cold was in 
reality a nerve sedative. 

After the second week however, effort should 
be made to increase the oxidizing powers of the 
blood. It is almost a constant outcome that obesity 
and anemia follow Typhoid Fever. In the latter 
stages of Typhoid Fever, that is, after the third 
week and up until the fifth and sixth week, when 
the patient is up and about, the diet should be 
almost exclusively proteid. As I have described 
in a former chapter, the Glycogen derived from the 
proteids more readily oxidizes than does the Gly- 


Typhoid Fever 


163 


cogen derived from the Carbohydrates. After the 
third week the patient should be encouraged to 
drink freely of Skimmed Milk. As much as six 
to eight quarts of Skimmed Milk may be drunk 
with benefit. The gluttony characteristic of Ty¬ 
phoid conditions is in reality hunger, not because 
of the lack of food but because of the lack of the 
blood to oxidize the food ingested. As agreed by 
most competent Medical Authorities, fat is nothing 
other than sub-oxidized food that cannot be used 
and must be stored up. Needless to add, sunshine 
and moderate exercise in the open air have decidely 
beneficial powers of recuperation. Because of the 
fact that the oxygen is more condensed at sea-level 
these cases thrive better at the seashore than they 
do in the mountains. 

It is my conviction that fully sixty per cent, 
of people who suffer from Typhoid Fever have an 
under-lying Malarious condition in the blood. The 
inability to properly oxidize in the blood affords 
better opportunity for the germs of infection to 
develop. As a routine practice all Typhoids, dur¬ 
ing and after their treatment, should be encouraged 
to obtain Vegetable Iron to increase their oxygen 
carrying properties. The routine practice of reg¬ 
ularly taking a decoction from the Cinchona-Bark, 
as described in the treatment of Malaria, should 
be encouraged and maintained for at least four or 
five weeks after apparent recovery from Typhoid. 
The observation of these details always resulted in 


164 Water in Disease and in Health 

a gradual restoration to normality without the de¬ 
velopment into gluttony and obesity in Typhoid. 

The custom of visiting people suffering from 
Typhoid must be condemned. Fundamentally, 
these patients, from the very conception of this 
disease, are exhausted and prostrated, and any 
additional labor or excitement only adds to their 
prostration. 

With the preparation of Cinchona-Bark, as de¬ 
scribed in the chapter on Malaria, there is prac¬ 
tically no interference with Osmosis of Plain 
Water and where there is a suspicion of possible 
Malarious involvement the use of this decoction 
should be encouraged from the very beginning of 
the disease. Where it is possible, moderate mas¬ 
sage over the Gall-Bladder to insure a fairly 
copious discharge of the bile is to be encouraged, 
but frequently the tenderness over the abdomen 
will not admit of this treatment during the early 
stages. However, after twenty-four hours ex¬ 
posure to the Cold Wet Pack, we usually find that 
the patient will tolerate moderate massage over 
this organ with little or no discomfort. The dis¬ 
infectant action of the bile unquestionably has 
decided action in checking the growth and activity 
of the Typhoid germ in the intestines and in the 
glands. During my student life Typhoid was very 
common in the Borough of Brooklyn, epidemics 
being present with due regularity every Fall, and I 
persuaded my preceptor to use Podophyllin for 


Typhoid Fever 


165 


the effect of increasing the flow of bile in these 
cases in order to obtain the disinfectant action of 
the bile upon the affected area. Pepper subse¬ 
quently reported a number of cases of marked 
benefit from this form of treatment. Strange as 
it may seem, altho laxative in its action, the use of 
Podophyllin residted in rapid correction of Diarr¬ 
heal manifestations . It has been my experience 
that where I have been able to affect proper dis¬ 
charge of the bile and maintain its active circula¬ 
tion the disease became rapidly aborted and not 
infrequently would be of but two weeks duration. 
The access to air is very essential thruout the tntire 
course of the Typhoid disease. This will prove 
a splendid preventive agent to hold off any 
threatening pneumonia, the abundance of oxygen 
in the lungs holding the disease producing germs 
in the air passages in check. 

With the first evidence of irregularity of the 
heart the ice hag should he applied over the apex. 
At fairly regular intervals, in conditions where 
the vitality is low, oxygen should be inhaled, keep¬ 
ing in mind not only the increased vitality which 
it affords but likewise its disinfectant action upon 
the air passages and chambers. 


CHAPTER XIV 


Typhus Fever 

In Typhus Fever the symptoms are more abrupt 
and more virulent than those of Typhoid Fever, 
but fundamentally the treatment must be to render 
the case benign until Nature has had opportunity 
to generate Autogens to destroy the infection. 

Constipation in these cases, with distention of 
the abdomen, is the rule and the High Colon 
Irrigation should be practiced with more frequency 
than in Typhoid. The use of the High Colon Irri¬ 
gation should be practiced twice in twenty-four 
hours. The vitality of the patient is at the mini¬ 
mum around midnight and the High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion should be given approaching this hour to 
moderate the depression which comes at that time. 
In these cases the bed-pan should be used and the 
High Colon Irrigation given in the bed by placing 
pillows under the abdomen, the hips can be elevated 
and usually the irrigation can be prolonged with 
comfort until the Transverse Colon is flooded. In 
this disease the liver is prominently affected and 
the benefits of the High Colon Irrigation thru re¬ 
flex stimulation and functional activity of this 
organ are pronounced. Where it is possible to 
do so without exciting too much distress, evacu- 

166 


Typhus Fever 


167 


ation of the Gall-Bladder has decidely salutary 
effect. Frequently the Local Cold Wet Pack will 
be ample to relieve all internal congestion, but 
occasionally the attack will be so virulent that the 
Complete Cold Wet Pack is necessary. 

From the very conception of this disease Water 
should be drunk freely with Alcohol added as de¬ 
scribed in a former chapter, and solid food must 
be vigorously abstained from during the first four 
or five days. Between the periods of High Colon 
Irrigation much benefit will be obtained by intro¬ 
ducing the colon tube into the rectum and afford¬ 
ing further escape of the gases from the intestines. 
Collapse should be guarded against by the use of 
the Local Ice Pack over the Heart, and Oxygen, in 
grave cases, should be administered at frequent 
intervals. 

The Autogens in this disease are far more rapid 
in their development than are the Autogens in 
Typhoid Fever and the grave danger is during the 
early stages, in contrast with Typhoid where the 
grave danger is in the latter stages of the disease. 

The same general rules as in Typhoid Fever 
should be practiced in Typhus Fever. 




CHAPTER XV 
Rheumatism 

Pathologists and Clinical Experts are still at a 
loss to know whether urate of soda is the cause or 
the result of Acute Inflammatory Joint Rheurna- 
tism. i |1; 

All urates are excreted by the kidneys. There¬ 
fore, when the kidneys fail to excrete the urates 
as they should we find an excess of them deposited 
in the tissues and in the joints. Nature is kind 
enough to dilute these urates by an excessive se¬ 
cretion of the synovial fluid of the joints. Thus 
we find, as a general rule, that the affected joints 
are tense, swollen and red. 

The Hydropath must consider three factors in 
the correction of Rheumatism: 

(1) The source of the supply of the urates. 

(2) The normal elimination. 

(3) The supplemental elimination. 

The source of the formation of urates is usually 
within the intestinal canal, and is due to infective 
material generated there. The failure by physi¬ 
cians to study more closely the relation between the 
intake and the output, (the meals and the stools) 
has deprived us of much information as to the 
quantitative as well as the qualitative action of 
digestion and absorption. 

168 


Rheumatism 


169 


The general belief among the Laity and Physi¬ 
cians as to the evils of meat and other proteids in 
Rheumatic conditions is not well founded for 
Skimmed Milk, which contains large quantities of 
readily assimilated proteir, is in fact the ideal diet 
for Rheumatism. The evil results of rich proteid 
diet in Rheumatism are remote, not direct. How¬ 
ever, most Physicians and Laymen have an ex¬ 
aggerated idea as to the ease and completeness with 
which meat is digested. Only from five to fifteen per 
cent, of boiled meat is affected by digestion; but 
meat has another fault in that it is very bland in 
the stomach and intestine, and promotes directly 
arid reflexly very little organic activity. 

Coarse vegetables, on the other hand, mechani¬ 
cally stimulate muscular and secretory activity of 
the organs of digestion, while at the same time their 
vegetable acids also promote functional activity . 
In this way vegetables favor the elimination of the 
waste products of tissue change, stimulate excre¬ 
tion, and cause the removal of large quantities 
of inorganic and organic salts— these latter thru 
the active flow of bile. 

Bile not only is a prominent medium of elimin¬ 
ation, but, by reason of its strong alkalinity, checks 
fermentation, and in this respect is a disinfectant, 
moderating putrefactive changes in the small and 
large intestines. Because of this action of en¬ 
couraging the flow of Bile, the preventive effect 


170 Water in Disease and in Health 

of raw vegetables and raw fruits in checking Rheu¬ 
matic conditions is clearly shoivn. 

Before dismissing tlie question of proteids, I 
wish to say that the presence of animal coloring 
matter in the meat has little, if any effect on di¬ 
gestibility. To differentiate between red and 
white meat is merely a matter of pigments, and has 
nothing whatsoever to do with dietetics. The struc¬ 
ture and chemistry of white meat, or meat in which 
there is an absence of pigment, is practically iden¬ 
tical with that of red meat. 

In bringing about the cure of Bheumatic con¬ 
ditions the primary effort must be in the direction 
of eliminating the waste products thru increased 
activity of the bile flow, and of moderating the 
fermentation or decomposition in the Alimentary 
Canal. 

It must be borne in mind that there is a close 
relationship between the activity of the intestines 
and that of the Gall-Bladder. While the activity of 
the intestines, as a rule, is reflexly stimulated by 
action of the Gall-Bladder, yet the reaction is 
equal. Therefore, activity of the intestines to some 
extent helps to evacute the Gall-Bladder, thus 
throwing off the waste products excreted by the 
liver and promoting the checking of putrefying 
changes in the intestinal canal. 

The action of the High Colon Irrigation, locally, 
promotes a cleansing of the large intestine, and 


Rheumatism 


171 


reflexly prompts the expulsion of bile from the 
Gall-Bladder into the intestine. 

In Rheumatism this High Colon Irrigation 
should be practiced with a fair degree of regular¬ 
ity. The night and morning use of the Irrigation 
will, as a rule, be found sufficient. Again, the pres¬ 
ence of the excess water in the blood, thru its 
Osmotic Absorption in the Ascending Colon, not 
only liquifies the bile and washes out the poison, 
but it also stimulates the kidneys and the sweat 
glands to increased activity. This assists the elim¬ 
ination of the waste matter. 

Furthermore, in a large percentage of cases, an 
actual retarding of Bile from the Gall-Bladder 
will be observed. In fact it is characteristic with 
Rheumatics that the stool is deficient in Bile Salts. 
In these cases evacuation of the Gall-Bladder and 
its stimulation to activity should be promoted by 
Manipulation of the Gall-Bladder, as described in 
the chapter on Diseases of the Intestines. This 
simple procedure should be repeated, following 
lavage of the colon night and morning. The rapid¬ 
ity with which relief will be afforded by such 
measures is remarkable. Frequently all symptoms 
of Acute Rheumatic Infection will disappear with¬ 
in forty-eight hours. 

The hourly drinking of Distilled Water consti¬ 
tutes a splendid adjunct to this treatment. The 
affinity of Distilled Water for vegetable acids and 


172 


Water in Disease and in Health 


mineral salts promotes their absorption and elim¬ 
ination thru the kidneys. 

In cases where the results are not sufficiently 
prompt, a Hot Dry Pack, to assist in the elimin¬ 
ation thru the activity of the sweat glands, will 
prove very efficient in supplementing the other 
treatments. This Pack should be maintained and 
the sweat prolonged for a minimum duration of 
five hours . Rarely will it be found necessary to 
repeat it, but, if repeated, it should not last more 
than two or three hours, at the outside. The usual 
directions in the use of the Hot Dry Pack require 
no modifications for the treatment of Rheumatism. 

Note the fact that Rheumatism is generally 
nothing but the abrupt manifestation of a Chronic 
Underlying Condition. The aim of the Hydropath 
is to remove the cause, not to mask the symptoms 
by the administration of salines or remedies such 
as the salicylates. 

The patient should not retard or complicate the 
use of Water in curing Rheumatism by taking 
drugs, which will merely deter Hydrotherapy from 
doing its work . When the pain is intense use the 
Hot Dry Pack. This will afford relief almost sim¬ 
ultaneously with the appearance of the sweat. 

The diet during and following an attack of Rheu¬ 
matism calls for special attention. It should be 
of a character calculated to promote an active flow 
and excretion of the bile. Certain fruits have a 
decided cholagogue action—that is they increase 


Rheumatism 


173 


the flow of bile. A compote composed of rhubarb y 
apples and oranges, cooked together and strained, 
then boiled again with the addition of sugar, has 
proven very efficient within my knowledge in in¬ 
creasing the discharge of bile. 

Thru their Mechanical irritation, spinach, let¬ 
tuce, beet-tops, knob celery, turnips, potatoes, raw 
fruits (with the exception of the strawberry) 
bananas, apples, pears and cooked peaches have 
a beneficial influence in increasing the activity of 
the liver functions. 

On the other hand, onions, garlic, strawberries, 
tomatoes, cucumbers and radishes, because of their 
intense irritating properties, are prone to excite 
a spasm about the pylorus, and thus close the open¬ 
ing of the bile duct into the intestine. The same 
is true of pepper and strong spices. I have seen 
a number of cases where the clinical history and 
subsequent developments prompted me to arrive 
at the conclusion that the specific cause of Rheu¬ 
matism was an irritation resulting from the pyloric 
spasm induced from the use of whiskey and onions. 
This spasm interfered with the opening of the 
Gall-Duct to the intestine. 

The persistent and excessive use of coffee cannot 
be too strongly condemned . It conduces to Rheu¬ 
matism, not only thru its action on the stomach 
nerve periphery, but also because of the way it re¬ 
tards the cellular, or secreting, activity of the 
liver. 


174 Water in Disease and in Health 

The great danger, ever present in Rheumatic 
conditions, of involving the lining and valves of 
the heart is promptly relieved thru the efficient 
Hydropathic methods of elimination, in strong 
contrast with ordinary medical treatment. Rarely, 
indeed, will there be any involvement of the heart 
where these therapeutic measures have been 
promptly and efficiently followed. 

In Chronic Rheumatism, the functional activity 
of the liver must be vigorously maintained. For 
this reason, the diet should he largely, if not ex¬ 
clusively, vegetable. Distilled Water should he 
drunk freely every morning . 

Rheumatic conditions are greatly benefited by 
regular indulgence in a long, Hot Tub Bath. The 
Osmosis promoted by the water directly drains the 
blood of many of its unsatisfied compounds and 
mineral salts. As a rule, these baths should be 
taken immediately before bedtime, followed by 
rest in a warm bed, or by sleeping between 
blankets. The duration of the baths should be an 
hour or thereabouts. 

The so-called mud baths have no value over the 
plain water bath. Their action depends solely 
upon water and rest. In fact, physically speaking, 
the benefit of the mud baths is decidedly inferior 
to that of the plain water bath, except in those 
local diseases in which some aluminum or radium 
in the mud affords a curative action upon a dis¬ 
eased skin. 


Rheumatism 


175 


Massage in Chronic Rheumatism is mildly effi¬ 
cient, in that its electrical stimulation promotes 
normal activity in the tissues, both local and re¬ 
mote. Also, by its effect on the skin, it promotes 
more active secretion of the sweat glands. 

The relief afforded by a dry climate as con¬ 
trasted with the distress in a moist atmosphere is 
owing solely to the rapidity with which the sweat 
is stimulated and evaporated in the dry, hot air. 

The Hot-Air Cabinet Treatment of Chronic 
Rheumatic conditions is also of great therapeutic 
value. Its regular use by elderly people should 
be encouraged. The duration of the exposure, 
however, should never exceed one hour, and the 
patient should always have access to cool, fresh 
air for breathing, thus avoiding the strain upon 
the heart and lungs from inhaling hot, light, dry 
air. 

The observance of these rules in all cases of 
Rheumatism will afford prompt relief from the 
acute symptoms, and, if persisted in for a sufficient 
length of time, will bring about a thorough and 
effective cure. 


CHAPTER XVI 


Digestive Diseases 

Before reading this chapter I would ask my 
readers to turn back to the little chart of the 
various divisions of the digestive tract, so that 
when I refer to these divisions they will be familiar 
with their locality. (See page 90 and page 223.) 

The close relationship among all anatomical di¬ 
visions of the digestive tract, as well as the supple¬ 
mental organs of digestion, that is the liver and 
the Pancreatic Gland, make it more or less inac¬ 
curate to speak of any disease as being exclusively 
confined to any particular division or location in 
the Alimentary Canal. 

It must be kept in mind that Nature, in order to 
effect proper means of digestion, excites contrac¬ 
tion at various sections of the digestive canal, and, 
were there no contractions thruout the canal, it 
would be nothing other than a tube varying from 
three-quarters of an inch in diameter in the esopha¬ 
gus to about two and one-half inches in the colon. 

The general conception is that the stomach is al¬ 
ways large, in fact some Medical Authorities 
place its contents as high as two quarts, but that is 
erroneous. In infant life the stomach is more ver¬ 
tical, and, in reality, is merely an enlargement of 

176 


Digestive Diseases 


177 


tlie canal and disappears after the food enters the 
intestine. As we progress in age this enlargement 
becomes more and more prononunced, and it is 
not infrequent to find a stomach measuring fifteen 
inches in length and the transverse diameter ap¬ 
proaching six to seven inches. This condition is 
present in fairly healthy normal stomachs. 

Cunningham demonstrated that, in proper con¬ 
traction, the stomach in reality was one of the 
narrowest parts of the canal, and that the autopsy 
was not the proper guide as death had failed to 
contract the stomach muscles . By making a series 
of parafin molds with the stomach thoroughly con¬ 
tracted he proved that the stomach was reduced to 
a transverse diameter approaching one inch, and a 
longitudinal diameter slightly in excess of two 
inches. 

Thus it can be readily seen that the constant 
dilating of the stomach, with food and gases, as a 
general rule, results in a weakening of its muscles 
and in an inability to contract to its fullest extent. 

Unquestionably, the great benefit obtained by a 
starvation diet, as advocated by MacFadden and 
others, is attained by permitting the stomach op¬ 
portunity to contract to its fullest extent . The 
contraction of the stomach is a matter of greatest 
importance in the correction of all digestive dis¬ 
turbances . With the full contraction the pylorus 
or constricted circular fibers at the end of the 
stomach become relaxed, and we have virtually a 


178 


Water in Disease and in Health 


straight tube, with no constriction, enabling liquids 
to move fairly freely directly into the intestinal 
tract. 



Diagram Showing Contraction of Stomach 


It must be understood that with the contraction 
of the stomach the longitudinal muscles also con¬ 
tract, so that not only is the stomach contracted 
as far as its diameters, but it is likewise contracted 
upward. Let me discuss this a little more fully 
as I find that a great many of my patients have 
been skeptical of the ability of the stomach to re¬ 
main in place. Unlike all voluntary muscles, there 
is practically no bony attachment of the muscular 
fibers thruout the Alimentary Canal, and these 
fibers merely find their attachment to other sim¬ 
ilar fibers above and below. The contraction of 
one fiber promotes the contraction of the adjacent 
fiber and so on until we have a general contraction 
in and about the region of the stomach. Thus is 





















Digestive Diseases 


179 


it that a stomach that may lie in the region of the 
navel, when fully contracted, will be found between 
the fifth and the seventh ribs. 

Naturally, the original massage to promote the 
contractive power is necessarily more thorough 
and more severe, the subsequent massage will be¬ 
come less and less pronounced, and the means of 
maintaining the stomach in its normal position can 
be arrived at by frequent and simple massage by 
the patient himself. 

The proneness of muscular, motility, or motion 
disturbances in the stomach, to inflammatory 
changes in the lining membrane is about fifty to 
one; so, in other words, practically the primary 
lesions in the stomach conditions are those of mo¬ 
tility, and inflammatory changes are secondary, de¬ 
pendent upon the deranged motility. 

This fact will probably be disputed by most Gas- 
trologists, and I am asking the reader to be patient 
while I discuss this matter. Assume the situation 
where the motility is natural or normal; an ir¬ 
ritating substance has two avenues of explusion— 
thru the mouth or into the intestines. The Hydro¬ 
chloric Acid in the stomach is an efficient disin¬ 
fectant capable of checking decomposition from 
bacteria. The secretion of saliva is abundant in 
all irritating conditions in the stomach and we 
have the diluent effect of this fluid to render the 
infection or irritation bland, so that, in substance, 
Nature has afforded splendid protection for the 


180 Water in Disease and in Health 

mucuous membrane in the stomach. On the other 
hand, we are f undamentally animals and our struc¬ 
ture has to meet the demands of the cultivated or 
civilized animals. The animal instinct is to gorge 
oneself, followed by prolonged rest in order to di¬ 
gest the enormous indulgence. This is more par¬ 
ticularly in the omnivora than it is in the lierbivora 
or in the carnivora, because of the fact that, with 
the abundance of starches or Carbohydrates being 
checked by the Hydrochloric Acid, far greater rest 
is required to digest the starches, since physical ac¬ 
tivity delays the digestive changes. 

The civilized custom of preparing the foods for 
digestion thru the process of cooking, and the 
custom of eating three or more times a day, is in 
direct conflict with the mechanical arrangement of 
the stomach. In reality the stomach is a churn hav¬ 
ing vibratory as well as contracting power. It has 
been estimated that there are as many as 1760 vi¬ 
brations to the minute in the stomach during di¬ 
gestion, and as many as ten to thirty contracting 
motions in the stomach following the meal. As a 
result, from earliest childhood we have been train¬ 
ed to lessen the period of relaxation following the 
expulsion of food into the intestines. 

The empty feeling which comes to us as the re¬ 
sult of contraction is an indication of hunger to 
most of us. With this state of affairs, constant 
from childhood, it can be readily understood that 
the contracting power or motility of the stomach 


Digestive Diseases 


181 


has become progressively weakened. It is a com¬ 
mon thing for me to find patients who will thrive 
on two meals a day, one meal in the morning and 
one in the evening, and who suffer marked discom¬ 
fort if they indulge in a noon-time meal. As we 
progress in age we should increase the periods be¬ 
tween the meals and, as supplemental to this, we 
should resort to artificial means, that is massage, 
to promote the contracting power of the stomach . 

In considering the question of Massage of the 
abdominal organs, we can brush aside as absurd 
the so-called dangers of rough massage. The walls 
of the abdomen posterially above and below are 
protected by strong bony structure. The abdom¬ 
inal organs are protected in the front of the 
abdomen by a strong apron of fatty tissue and a 
strong band of muscular fibers and tendinous 
tissue, and it is physically impossible, with ordin¬ 
ary pressure, to exercise sufficient force to injure 
any of the internal organs. 

It is also highly important to appreciate the fact 
that the fluids, soft tissues, and organs of the 
abdominal cavity make their contents highly fluid, 
and any pressure exerted upon this cavity from 
without, to a greater or lesser degree, is Hydraulic 
in character. In fact, because of this Hydraulic 
condition most of my manipulations are remote 
and indirect. 

The abdominal contents always have a tendency 
to displacement downward . The erect position in 


182 Water in Disease and in Health 

which we walk and perform our work, thru the 
force of gravity, tends to produce this, while again 
the diaphragm, as a rule, is of such a strong fibrous 
nature that it permits of no upward displacement. 
With this in mind, all massage pressure must he 
exerted upward . Again, the posterial wall, as well 
as the upper wall, of the abdomen is always rigid 
in contrast with the relaxed front wall of the ab¬ 
domen, and consequently, the displacement tends 
toward the front of the abdomen . 

The patient or individual, lying on his back with 
his knees flexed to afford relaxation of the abdom¬ 
inal muscles, not only places himself in the best 
position to receive massage but also assists in that 
the force of gravity tends to return the organs 
to their normal positions . These facts are true, 
and all pressure must be directed backward and up¬ 
ward towards the diaphragm because of the Hy¬ 
draulic pressure. To a greater or lesser degree all 
manipulations are distributed thruout the abdom¬ 
inal cavity, more especially if we add rigidity to 
the front part of the abdomen by exerting the 
pressure with the entire palms of both hands. 

The object of massage is twofold. First to re¬ 
place the organ, and second to stimulate the ac¬ 
tivity of the motor generating nerves in the walls 
of the stomach. To obtain the first object I use the 
forcible lateral motion, standing to the right side 
of the patient and forming my both hands in a bent- 
hook shape, I throw the abdomen from left to right 


Digestive Diseases 


183 


and then push it with the palm of my hand from 
right to left; the third stroke being upward, 
gathering as much of the abdomen as I possibly 
can gather in both hands and with sudden force 
push it upward. The object of the first motion is 
to relieve any kink that may be in the intestinal 
canal, and the object of the second motion is to re¬ 
lieve any tension or pressure that may hold the 
displaced organs out of position. I repeat these 
motions four or five times, and then begin my 
supplemental circular motion. The circular motion 
has for its object the stimulation of the motor gen¬ 
erating nerves within the walls of the stomach and 
intestines. Various authorities differ as to the 
point where we should begin. Such an authority 
as Dr. Holm advises beginning on the left side, 
rotating in the direction of the rectum. On the 
other hand, Prof. Boas, advises beginning on the 
right side over the Ascending Colon and gradually 
approaching the rectum. It makes no difference 
in my opinion where you begin or where you end, 
so long as you obtain this repeated motion thruout 
the entire canal. 

It is usual and common, after the first three or 
four minutes of manipulation, to feel the contrac¬ 
tion of the stomach and intestines in your hands. 

While at first the patient may experience a sense 
of soreness in and about the abdomen this will 
gradually disappear, and as the kinks are removed 
and muscular activity becomes more pronounced 


184 


Water in Disease and in Health 


a sense of relief will be experienced by the patient. 
In fact with the contraction of the stomach the ir¬ 
ritation in the Solar Plexus is relieved, the respi¬ 
ratory action becomes less labored, and the patient 
experiences a sense of exhilaration. The duration 
of the massage should be guided by obtaining too 
little rather than too much. I frequently advise my 
patients to give their stomachs a slight massage 
every time they think of it, even if this he one hun¬ 
dred times a day, keeping in mind the fact that the 
muscular condition of the stomach and the intes¬ 
tines is the outcome of years of development . How¬ 
ever, an abdominal massage should never be less 
than three to five minutes duration. 

The benefits of vibratory massage or the appli¬ 
cation of the vibrator over the abdominal wall is 
a splendid adjunct to abdominal massage after the 
organs are replaced to their normal positions, but 
it is a grave menace before this . It is becoming 
a matter of routine in' the Sanitarium that subse¬ 
quent to the replacing of the organs we apply the 
vibrator, covered with a soft rubber appliance, 
over the Pylorus. This has a decidedly sedative 
action on the Vagus Nerve (Solar Plexus) and 
naturally aids in the relaxation of this part of the 
stomach. When the stomach is contracted the 
Pylorus will be found high up in the angle below 
the ribs and the breast-bone. 

It requires no stretch of imagination to recog¬ 
nize that stomach rest is a splendid adjunct to 


Digestive Diseases 


185 


correct the motility disturbances, but very fre¬ 
quently, in fact in the vast majority of cases, 
emaciation exists to such a degree that nourish¬ 
ment, even forced nourishment, is imperative . 
However, it is of splendid assistance to relieve in¬ 
flammatory changes in the membrane of the stom¬ 
ach and intestines by having the patient or in¬ 
dividual drink freely of water (a glass) immed¬ 
iately after massage . The result of this is twofold. 
First, the Pylorus being obliterated and the stom¬ 
ach contracted mechanically, the water washes the 
stomach contents directly into the intestinal canal. 
This fact will unquestionably be a source of sur¬ 
prise to a great many physicians, but the stethos¬ 
cope over the Pylorus will reveal the gurgling of 
the water as it passes through the Pylorus into the 
intestine. Second, the Osmotic action of the water, 
not only in the stomach but in the upper intestinal 
tract, relieves the congested condition in these 
organs. 

While it is impossible in a Work of this nature 
and in fact in any Medical Work to draw a dis¬ 
tinct line between the various diseases, I will give 
a short description of the means of correcting the 
most common of digestive diseases by the appli¬ 
cation of these Hydrotherapeutic principles. 

HYPERACIDITY—SOUR, BURNING STOMACH 

The Medical Textbooks devote a great deal of 
space to the discussion of this disease. So com- 


186 Water in Disease and in Health 

mon is it that a fair estimate of the money spent 
on Bicarbonate of Soda, alone, for its correction 
would exceed ten millions of dollars a year. 

In reality, sour, burning stomach, Hyperacidity, 
Acidosis, are really nothing other than manifesta¬ 
tions of derangements in the stomach. If I were 
to name one cause as standing out prominently as 
the exciting cause of this condition, I would name 
coffee. Coffee contains a powerful nerve seda¬ 
tive, caffeine. Caffeine is capable of checking the 
muscular activity and delaying the food in the 
stomach and this, reflexly, excites the increased 
flow of Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach (Butyric 
and Lactic Acid formation) which forms more 
actively than in the presence of bile. Consequent¬ 
ly we have a condition of excessive acids. On the 
other hand, Nature, in her efforts to protect the 
intestines from irritating substances coming in 
from the stomach, excites undue contraction of 
the Pylorus, and further retards passage of food 
into the intestine. Stimulating and irritating 
foods are frequent causes of this. The Sulphur 
compound of the onion, leek, and garlic, now al¬ 
most universally used in the restaurants, etc., to 
season our meats and other foods; peppers, con¬ 
diments, as well as the acids of the radish, horse¬ 
radish, cucumber, tomatoes, strawberries, and oc¬ 
casionally peaches, are all irritating and stimu¬ 
lating to the stomach glands, and the avoidance 


Digestive Diseases 


187 


of these foods should be the very first step in the 
direction of cure for this condition. 

The subject of Nicotine is one on which I have 
frequently been questioned. The amount of Nico¬ 
tine that is deposited on the fauces and upper air 
passages is very minute. However, we have a very 
considerable deposit of carbon from the smoke 
which does excite the excessive flow of saliva, and 
it is my rule to advise patients to abstain from 
smoking until the acid has begun to flow in the 
stomach and the digestion of starches from the 
saliva has ceased,—that would be about twenty 
minutes after a meal. This observation, I believe, 
will relieve us of any menace of Hyperacidity re¬ 
sulting from a moderate indulgence in tobacco. 

The question of the Milk Diet in these cases has 
been so strongly advocated that I consider it im¬ 
perative to discuss it here. In the presence of 
Hydrochloric Acid the emulsification of the fats 
in the milk is destroyed and their value as a food 
decidedly lessened. The casein is more active and 
promotes almost a condition of saponification, 
which practically destroys all the nutritive value 
of the milk beyond the water. In addition, fre¬ 
quently because of such texture, it is retarded in 
passing thru the pyloric opening into the intestine. 
On the other hand, removing the fats by means of 
skimming the milk or removing the cream, or re¬ 
moving the fat by means of churning, goes a long 
way towards correcting this outcome. Consequent- 


188 Water in Disease and in Health 

1 y in conditions of Hyperacidity the nutritive value 
of skimmed or fresh butter-milk greatly exceeds 
that of fresh milk and we escape the unpleasant 
outcome. 

I have classified butter-milk by saying fresh 
butter-milk, that is—butter-milk from the milk 
that has been churned — not soured. In other 
words, the Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach will 
check the Lactic Acid formation. The Lactic Acid 
development is very readily formed in warm 
churned milk, and it is a foreign substance in the 
stomach capable of irritating and exciting inflam¬ 
matory changes in the mucuous membrane. The 
artificial form of butter-milk made by an innocu- 
lation of the lactic bacillae must be avoided . 

It must be kept in mind that the mixing of dif¬ 
ferent foods has the tendency for each to render 
the other bland, while again it affords Nature a 
much greater field of substance capable of being 
converted into Glycogen. For this reason it has 
been my rule in these conditions to prescribe a lib¬ 
eral mixed diet, composed namely of well cooked 
or boiled food, both meat and vegetable. 

It must be borne in mind that Nature is so con¬ 
structed that she responds to practically all of the 
demands placed upon her, and foods that in them¬ 
selves require exceptional digestive powers, with 
the consequent increased flow of Pepsin and Hy¬ 
drochloric Acid, should be avoided. Consequently, 
fried foods, because the process of frying gener- 


Digestive Diseases 


189 


ally toughens the fibers and renders them less sol¬ 
uble to the digestive juices, should be avoided. The 
seeds of fruits, the kernels of nuts, foods that have 
been preserved by a chemical preserver, such as 
prunes, figs, dates, raisins, and prepared cereals, 
especially oatmeal preparations, should be avoid¬ 
ed. Alcoholic beverages, if spiced, such as cord¬ 
ials, cocktails, etc., are too stimulating. Bland 
beers and mild sweet wines, can be tolerated. 

Where the patient is well nourished, complete 
stomach rest is very essential to promote recovery. 
However, the restraint from all food should never 
exceed seventy-two hours. Contraction of the 
stomach by means of efficient massage is the most 
reliable means of correcting this condition. This 
should be supplemented by the drinking of cold 
water, especially in the morning upon arising. A 
pint of cool water from the faucet, accompanied 
by vigorous massage until the gurgling is heard 
as the water passes from the Pylorus into the 
intestine, and an observance of the diet I have just 
given, will he found sufficient in all uncomplicated 
primary cases of Hyperacidity . 

However, this must be persisted in for several 
weeks, and massage must be practiced at least 
twice daily with occasional slight massage during 
the working hours. 

It must be remembered that rarely is Hyper¬ 
acidity uncomplicated by inflammatory changes or 
derangements of the motility. In fact it is prac- 


190 Water in Disease and in Health 

tically impossible to have a functional derange¬ 
ment of the glandular element of the stomach, 
without affecting the actual membrane itself and 
the motility of the muscular coats. Again, a very 
large percentage of these cases, to a greater or 
lesser extent, are dependent upon some remote 
cause. 

If, however, the observation of this diet with 
massage and, the copious drinking of cold water 
in the morning on rising does not afford complete 
recovery, you can be confident that there are some 
underlying complications to be met. As I said 
at the beginning of the discussion of this ailment, 
Hyperacidity in itself is rarely other than a com¬ 
plication of different conditions. 

The physiological fact that Hydrochloric Acid 
is no longer poured into the stomach after the 
food is emptied into the intestines, should prompt 
us to indulge in moderate exercise following the 
meal. The jar of walking in itself is a form of 
stimulation to the muscular coats of the stomach, 
and when not too vigorously indulged in, so with¬ 
drawing the blood from the digestive organs and 
the muscles of the limbs, materially aids in afford¬ 
ing prompt evacuation of the stomach contents. 

However, such pronounced excercise as running, 
playing ball, horseback riding, on a full stomach 
requires too much muscular effort, and retards di¬ 
gestion by withdrawing the blood to the muscles 
engaged in exercise. 


Digestive Diseases 
Acute Gastritis 


]91 


In infancy the rule is for a child to have a little 
colic, and upon vomiting, shortly to obtain relief. 
In a previous chapter I have described the proc¬ 
esses of vomiting when irritating substances reach 
the stomach, and it becomes weakened as we pro¬ 
gress in age unless the art of vomiting be culti¬ 
vated. It is an art which should be encouraged by 
everyone. Let us discuss in a broad understand¬ 
able way what the stomach is called upon to per¬ 
form. Take the common slop pail, and put into it 
the ingredients that are usually found in the 
stomach after a meal. Into this pail we will throw 
several million yeast cells and sarcinae, and about 
twenty-eight different varieties of bacteria that 
are found in and about the mouth, and upper air 
passages. Add to this a pint of saliva, a cocktail, 
a cordial, a lot of onion juices, a lot of garlic, 
soups that contain particles of animal matter and 
ninety-nine per cent, water and a little salt, in¬ 
clude a fruit cordial, and after this cheese, some 
lobster ala Newburgh, followed by four or five 
different kinds of vegetables well immersed in 
cooking fat (lard). Throw in a lot of cooked 
sugars, eggs and flour, dump in on top of this cer¬ 
tain quantities of coffee, a little Burgundy or a 
little more of the cocktail, to this adding a little 
Ptyalin, then Pepsin, a little Hydrochloric Acid, 
heating it all to a temperature of 100° Fhr., then 


192 


Water in Disease and in Health 


shake it back and forth, collecting all the gases 
that are generated, and we have a sort of modified 
idea of the work that the average human stomach 
is called upon to perform. 

We often marvel at the digestive properties of 
the Ostrich, but he is purely and simply a herbi- 
vora, and will spend from a day to a month in di¬ 
gesting his food. Take the common barnyard chic¬ 
ken. The corn will be found in its crop in 
practically an indigested state fully a week after 
it has been ingested, and yet the human stomach 
must empty itself and re-charge with food prac¬ 
tically every three or four waking hours. Again, 
the Ostrich and the Chicken are actively walking 
and picking, while, only too frequently, warming 
the rocking-chair or desk-stool is the main exercise 
with the human. 

With a vision of circumstances somewhat sim¬ 
ilar to these, the hesitancy of affording free ave¬ 
nues of escape when the stomach becomes acutely 
affected can be somewhat prevented. In other 
words, there should be no hesitancy in all acute 
conditions of the stomach to evacuate this organ 
freely and thoroughly. Very frequently the prompt 
evacuation of the stomach thru vomiting or by 
means of the stomach tube, will result in complete 
relief and practically cure the attack. 

It is highly advisable to encourage vomiting by 
adding to the fluidity of the stomach contents. The 
more fluid it is, the more readily it is expelled, 


Digestive Diseases 


193 


fluids requiring little peristalic movement in the 
esophagus to be expelled, in contrast with the solid 
particles of food. Just so long as vomit is free 
no additional means is required. However, it is 
advisable to drink freely of warm water. A pint 
of warm water toward the end of a vomit, thrown 
freely off will not only cleanse the stomach but 
will render the acids of decomposition more bland. 
The custom of tickling the fauces by means of 
the finger and depressing the tongue is familiar 
to all of us. Vomiting should be continued in spite 
of the temporary prostration which it may excite. 
Contrary to the general opinion that the straining 
of vomiting is dangerous, the fact is that, with the 
expulsion of the food and gases from the stomach, 
the heart is afforded relief, not only from pressure 
but reflexly from the Solar Plexus; the irritation 
is lessened and the dangers of the strain are far 
less than those of an attack of Acute Gastritis. 

It is of no consequence whether the cause of 
Acute Gastritis be bacterial or chemical, free 
vomit or the free use of water are indicated. In 
cases of poisoning from corrosives the chemical 
antidote should be used. In these cases the great 
benefit of using milk is largely because of the 
water it contains diluting the corrosive. The var¬ 
ious chemical poisonings will be discussed in a 
future chapter. 

The ideal treatment of Acute Gastritis after 
emptying the stomach by means of vomit is to 


194 Water in Disease and in Health 

thoroughly cleanse it by means of the stomach 
tube. Rest is very important. The shock of Acute 
Gastritis deranges the motility of the stomach and 
prolonged rest should be effected in order to enable 
Nature to assume normal muscular activity in the 
stomach. The twenty-four to forty-eight hours 
complete rest following an Acute Attack is indi¬ 
cated. Where the pain is intense it is strongly 
advisable to correct the spasm by massage and 
withdraw the congestion from the parts by means 
of the Local Cold Wet Pack, spread over the chest 
and abdomen. 

It must be kept in mind that the inhibitory nerve 
of the stomach is also the inhibitory nerve of the 
heart, that is, branches of the Vagus Nerve spread 
over the heart-wall as well as over the stomach- 
wall, and that any stimulation of this inhibitory 
nerve in the stomach excites inhibitory impulse of 
the heart. The great weakness that follows a blow 
in the stomach (Solar Plexus) is illustrative of 
this, and the heart palpitation that is experienced 
by dyspeptics is another frequent illustration. So 
that it must be recognized that extremely rare is it 
that Acute Gastritis is not accompanied by acute 
dilatation of the stomach . Therefore, in all cases of 
Acute Gastritis after the stomach has become thor¬ 
oughly cleansed and emptied, massage should be 
practiced with considerable force. 

Unfortunately there is a wide-spread opinion 
among Physicians as well as the Laity that the 


Digestive Diseases 


195 


sense of 6 ‘goneness’’ experienced when the stom¬ 
ach is fully contracted is evidence of weakness re¬ 
quiring food. This prompts too early an indul¬ 
gence of nourishment, so much so that probably 
60 per cent of conditions of Acute Gastritis in 
the adult, all to a greater or lesser degree become 
chronic. In other words, the progress of Acute 
Gastritis in the average adult is progressive, in¬ 
creasing its involvment of tissue in the majority 
of cases. 

Practically all deaths of Acute Heart Failure 
and Apoplexy are in reality nothing other than 
manifestations of Acute Gastritis; the heart being 
unable to withstand the derangement, excited by 
the irritation of the inhibitory nerve of the stom¬ 
ach. Thus, it can be recognized that as we advance 
in age we should -first of all put as little tax upon 
the stomach as is possible, by the use of simple, 
light meals at infrequent intervals and at the earl¬ 
iest manifestation of distress should have devel¬ 
oped the art of emptying the stomach either by 
vomit or the use of the stomach tube. The man of 
60 years should never eat more than two meals a 
day and they should be as far apart as possible. 
The man of 50 years should eat much less than the 
man of 40, and after adolescence, that is about the 
age of 25, our food indulgence should become pro¬ 
gressively more moderate, not only in bulk but also 
in character. 

The attempt to regulate the diet by an estimation 


196 Water in Disease and in Health 

of the calories is no panacea in the art of nourish¬ 
ment. In other words, both meat and vegetables, 
cereals and, all forms of food are capable of form¬ 
ing Glycogen or fat, and the extent with which 
they are capable of forming fat from the chemical 
contents of the food is the estimation of the cal¬ 
ories, but the chemical content of the food, and 
the chemical content of Glycogen are indeed re¬ 
moved. The conversion of the calories of the food 
into Glycogen depends upon fully one hundred or 
more conditions. Food that will on one occasion 
react to the digestive juices will on another oc¬ 
casion pass thru the canal unaffected. There is no 
constant digestion of any one article of food. 
Roughly speaking, from five to seven per cent, of 
meats are usually broken down and neutralized, 
sixty to seventy per cent, are cooked starches with 
practically no fibrous matter, and chemical salts 
2 per cent., but these are not constant. I have 
frequently examined the stool, and found meat in 
a fairly normal condition of the stomach and in¬ 
testine, not only in its same structural condition, 
but containing the meat juices and the fat con¬ 
tents. The use of artifical digest ants affords prac¬ 
tically no benefit, and by substituting the natural 
element by the artificial element we modify the 
demands upon the stomach, and in this way are 
apt to undermine the activity of the glandular 
substance. In other words, the dry powdered stom¬ 
ach (Pepsin) of the pig, while it may contain some 


Digestive Diseases 


197 


Peptongenic Enzyme (ferment), is merely a sub¬ 
stitute and its ultimate action tends to produce a 
lack of activity in the glandular element in the 
stomach. 

The irritation of the Vagus Nerve or the inhibi¬ 
tory nerve of the muscular coats of the stomach, 
that is always accompanied by Acute Gastritis, 
retards muscular contraction with the result that 
the constant accompanying factor of Acute Gas¬ 
tritis is Gastric Dilatation. In other words, the 
longitudinal muscles are prevented from contract¬ 
ing and we have the stomach increased in length. 
Reflexly, the same condition is true of the esopha¬ 
geal longitudinal muscles and as a result the stom¬ 
ach is dropped down. The same action is directed 
upon the circular muscles of the stomach with the 
result that the lumen of the stomach is enlarged, 
and with the enlargement of the stomach and the 
delayed muscular activity, the relative approach to 
the Pylorus or constricted part of the stomach is 
much increased, and in this way the evacuation of 
the food from the Pylorus into the intestine is 
markedly retarded. This condition as just de¬ 
scribed exists in practically 95 per cent, of all con¬ 
ditions of the stomach, either as an uncomplicated 
disease or associated with other manifestations. 
These conditions are treated with stomach rest and 
massage; a modification of diet is advised in con¬ 
ditions of Acute Gastritis. The use of the abdom¬ 
inal belt or support is farcical and beyond what ad- 


198 Water in Disease and in Health 

dititonal pressure and jar it might afford locally 
to the stomach is of absolutely no value. In these 
conditions the massage must be practiced vigorous¬ 
ly and frequently. In order to secure proper rest in 
the stomach, it is highly advisable under these 
conditions, just before retiring at night, to wash 
the stomach out thoroughly with a bland alkaline 
solution, preferably four tablets of the alkaline 
antiseptics in four quarts of water. 

GASTROPTOSIS 

Keeping in mind the inhibitory action to muscu¬ 
lar contraction of the stomach, and the adjacent 
esophagus, as well as the fact that the muscualr 
coats of the stomach and the esophagus have no 
bony attachment but are dependent upon their 
fellow muscular fibers for purchase, it can be read¬ 
ily recognized that the repeated and prolonged in¬ 
hibitory action must necessarily result in stretch¬ 
ing of longitudinal fibers with the outcome that the 
stomach becomes displaced downward. It is not 
very rare that cases have been reported where the 
stomach was found, upon autopsy and the X-ray 
examination, within the pelvic canal. I, myself, 
have seen many cases where the greater curvature 
of the stomach was at the brim of the pelvis, a dis¬ 
placement of approaching twelve to fourteen inch¬ 
es. In aggravated conditions of Gastroptosis there 
is always more or less twisting of the stomach on 
its long axis. Consequently, the hour-glass stomach 


Digestive Diseases 


199 


or the double stomach is not very infrequent. With 
the carrying down of the stomach we have natural¬ 
ly a sagging down of the Transverse Colon, and 
progressively a general downward displacement of 
the Alimentary Canal. These are conditions which 
physicians term Splanchnoptosis and the condit¬ 
ion which is usually found in digestive diseases of 
long standing. 

When one recognizes the cause, that is, the in¬ 
hibitory action of the Vagus Nerve, he can readily 
recognize the almost insignificant value of an ab¬ 
dominal truss or belt in these conditions. In ten 
years, I have not prescribed an abdominal belt or 
supporting bands. Again, the practice of having 
the patient recline in bed with the foot of the bed 
elevated is practically of no value. This condition 
calls for abdominal massage, thorough, vigorous 
an d persistent ; for fairly nourishing meals of 
bland character given at infrequent intervals. Oc¬ 
casionally, the prolonged inhibitory action of the 
Vagus Nerve results in marked atony (debility) 
to motor-stimulating nerves within the muscular 
walls of the canal. These are the cases that obtain 
benefit from electrical stimulation. 

Much discussion has been given, by the Medical 
Profession, as to the relative value of the various 
forms of electrical current. The Galvanic has its 
supporters; the same is true of the Faradic; the 
High Frequency and various modifications of these 
currents. However, it must be borne in mind that 


200 


Water in Disease and in Health 


the very electrical stimulation capable of inciting 
ing the motor-stimulating nerves within the wall 
of the digestive tract, is also capable of stimulat¬ 
ing the Vagus or motor-inhibitory nerves and be¬ 
cause of this fact, it is very essential that complete 
contraction thru massage be afforded before any 
electrical current is used upon the digestive tract. 
Massage has not the same action on the inhibitory 
nerves of the digestive tract as the electrical cur¬ 
rent has, in fact we have practically no stimula¬ 
tion of the inhibitory nerve unless the outside pres¬ 
sure be of almost violent character. This fact is 
of the greatest importance, as in producing relax¬ 
ation of the pylorus by stimulating the inhibitory 
nerve the powerful pressure of the electrical vib¬ 
rator is necessary in a large percentage of the 
cases, as even powerful pressure from the thumbs 
is frequently not sufficient to produce necessary 
relaxation about the pylorus. 

These are the cases that require prolonged treat¬ 
ment. The patient should learn the art of wash¬ 
ing the stomach out thoroughly upon retiring at 
night, and some member of his family should prac¬ 
tice the art of vigorous abdominal massage, in 
order to promote complete contraction. The diet 
in these cases should be guided somewhat by the 
toleration of the patient. The distress is usually 
so great that restrictions in the diet need not be 
encouraged, because the apprehension of the pa¬ 
tient necessarily causes him or her to avoid many 


Digestive Diseases 


201 


foods. The general principles of diet, as set forth 
in the discussion of Acute Gastritis, and reference 
to the general mixed diet list that will supplement 
this chapter, will be sufficient guide on the question 
of food. 

Unfortunately, the debility caused by this dis¬ 
ease retards Nature in throwing off other infec¬ 
tions and a very large percentage of these cases 
are complicated by other infections. In a series of 
three hundred cases that I observed showed that 
ever 30 per cent, were complicated by Chronic 
Malaria, which in itself added to the debility. In 
all these cases I urged the patient to investigate 
and try to recall, if at any time, even years back, 
that he was in any way infected by Malaria. It is 
needless to add that with derangement in the mus¬ 
cular activity, and in the mechanical structure and 
position of the stomach and intestines, inflam¬ 
matory conditions are always present. After wash¬ 
ing the stomach out thoroughly, and restoring the 
organs to their normal positions by massage, sup¬ 
plemental use of the Cold Wet Pack, over the ab¬ 
domen and chest upon retiring, is decidely benefi¬ 
cial in that it relieves the congested conditions 
thruout the canal by drawing the blood to the sur¬ 
face. The various fatty and tissue attachments 
of the different parts of the Alimentary Canal are 
practically indissectible. In other words, they are 
merely modifications of the normal tissues which 
become attached to various organs and bony struc- 


202 Water in Disease and in Health 

ture and in turn are attached to the Canal, and 
with the contraction of the longitudinal libers the 
stomach and intestines are contracted into their 
normal position by the tension put upon these at¬ 
tachments or ligaments thru the shortened calibre 
of the Canal. 

Constipation in these cases is usual. The down¬ 
ward pressure of the colon increases the natural 
kink in the Sigmoid Flexure, sometimes rendering 
it almost impossible for the mass to pass. Oc¬ 
casionally, the irritation and inflammation will be 
so pronounced within the Canal that we have an 
excessive amount of mucus with the accompany¬ 
ing Diarrhea. Diarrhea in these conditions mere¬ 
ly indicates the increased severity or possibly the 
complication of Colitis. The High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion, before retiring, should be practiced in these 
cases with the same regularity that is the stomach 
massage and lavage. As I have described in a pre¬ 
vious chapter, mechanically, the weight of the 
water in the Knee-Chest position greatly aids in 
throwing the colon back in its normal position as 
well as relieving the pressure downward in the 
pelvic canal. This condition affords straightening 
out of the kink in the Sigmoid Flexure and in this 
way affords freer passage of the mass. The treat¬ 
ment should be frequently continued over months, 
. and as an improvement in health is noted, exercise 
in the open air should be encouraged. However, 
it is strongly advisable that strenuous work, such 


Digestive Diseases 


203 


as lifting, sweeping and opening tight windows, 
etc., should only be undertaken with marked cau¬ 
tion. 


CHRONIC GASTRITIS 

We cannot attempt in a Work of this volume to 
enter into hairline deviation of the various stages 
of this disease. The Medical Textbooks theorize 
as to the various forms of chronic inflammation of 
the stomach. From a therapeutic standpoint these 
deviations in form of Gastric Catarrh are of little 
or no consequence, because of the fact that Nature 
has provided a reserve or duplicate form of di¬ 
gestion which supplements gastric digestion. In 
other words, the burden of digesting the food is 
taken up in the smaller intestine just where the 
stomach digestion leaves off, and consequently, 
even in advanced conditions of Atrophic (dry) 
Catarrh, Nature under proper conditions will 
readily offset the lack of glandular supply of the 
digestive fluids. In fact it is a great question in 
my mind, especially in actual ulcerated conditions, 
whether or not this Atrophic form of Catarrh actu¬ 
ally exists. The absence of mucus in the lavage in 
no way indicates the Atrophic condition. How¬ 
ever, mucus detached from the walls of the stom¬ 
ach is capable of being digested and it is very 
common, in conditions of excessive flow of the gas¬ 
tric juices, to find the lavage clear. During my 
early student years, it was discouraging to me to 


204 Water in Disease and in Health 

find, as improvements in the patient occurred, fair¬ 
ly liberal quantities of mucus and membranes ap¬ 
pearing in the lavage. Experience has taught me 
that this is the usual result with the diminution of 
the flow of the Pepsin and Hydrochloric Acid. Un¬ 
fortunately, the absense of mucus is too apt to im¬ 
press the diagnostitian that Gastric - Catarrh in 
reality does not exist. The quantitative presence 
of Hydrochloric Acid is given by far too import¬ 
ant a role in the curing of this disease, by most 
physicians. Hydrochloric Acid depending not en¬ 
tirely upon the condition of the gastric glands, but 
rather almost entirely upon the presence of food 
in the stomach and in conditions of dilatation or 
Ptosis the food is necessarily delayed in the stom¬ 
ach and more opportunity is thus afforded for ex¬ 
cessive acid to appear. Frequently, with the re¬ 
turn of the stomach to its normal contraction all 
manifestations of excessive acidity will disappear 
and it is not uncommon to find just the opposite 
effect, that is the lessened quantity of Hydrochlor¬ 
ic Acid that is usually considered as the standard. 
There is no remedy that directly affects the muc¬ 
ous membrane of the stomach so effectively as 
that of the Osmotic action of Water. In other 
words, after the stomach has been cleansed of all 
its active contents by means of the stomach tube 
and fully contracted to its normal size and posit¬ 
ion, water should be drunk at frequent intervals, 
when the stomach is empty, to relive the congest- 


Digestive Diseases 


205 


ion in inflammatory changes, thru the Osmotic 
action. On beginning the treatment it not infre¬ 
quently is found that the constant ingesting of 
cold water has a temporarily nauseating effect. 
The inflamed mucus membranes are perhaps ex¬ 
cessively sensitive. This frequently accounts for 
the distress people sometimes experience in drink¬ 
ing cold water. This is one of the defects that the 
patient must strive to overcome and persist in the 
use of cold water. As improvement progresses, 
the patient will find that the morning indulgence 
in the drinking of water for the Osmotic action, 
will be sufficient. In fact this method should be 
carried out for months and even years, more espec¬ 
ially in the advanced years of life . 

The method I employ is, that immediately upon 
waking, the patient should drink a pint of water 
that has been placed the night before at the bed¬ 
side, flex the knees and either the patient or some 
member of his family, vigorously massage the ab¬ 
domen for at least five minutes or until the gurgl¬ 
ing is heard as the water passes out of the stomach 
into the intestine. No food should be taken into 
the stomach for at least one hour after the water 
is drunk . Catarrhal conditions of the stomach are 
in reality no other than complications of the dis¬ 
turbance of motility. The High Colon Irrigation 
upon retiring, even tho the patient suffer from 
Diarrhea, is advisable during early stages of the 
treatment. It is my uniform rule to advise rend- 


206 Water in Disease and in Health 

ering the irrigation bland to the bowel by the use 
of an alkaline antiseptic as I have previously de¬ 
scribed. 

Needless to add, fresh air and moderate exercise, 
avoidance of worry, have a decidely beneficial ac¬ 
tion in these cases. 

Reflexly, we frequently have conditions simulat¬ 
ing actual Catarrh of the stomach. The reflex ir¬ 
ritation of a sensitive Prostate or degenerative 
changes at the Menopause excite congested con¬ 
ditions in the Alimentary Canal which simulate 
Chronic Catarrh of the stomach/ The use of the 
High Colon Irrigation will modify these conditions 
to such an extent that, as a rule, all manifestations 
will practically disappear. If, however, these con¬ 
ditions persist it is urgent that the use of the High 
Colon Irrigation be maintained for a much longer 
period. 


GASTRIC ULCER 

The structure of the stomach is crowded with a 
network of large veins. In fact the general ap¬ 
pearance of the stomach, when contracted, looks 
like a fine mesh-work of blood vessels. With these 
large quantities of blood vessels of all sizes and 
varieties, with the stomach never constant in size, 
position or shape, with pressure never constant on 
these blood vessels, and rapid vibratory movements 
and fairly rapid contracting movements present 
thru digestion, it can be readily seen that it is 


Digestive Diseases 


207 


quite possible that some defect occur in the circu¬ 
lation, or that some minute part of the stomach be 
cut oif from its blood supply. In fact it is my 
opinion that superficial local ulceration of the 
stomach is far more frequent than is generally 
recognized. The tender spot locally in the stom¬ 
ach, that lasts for several days or weeks and then 
disappears is suspicious of such a condition. Apart 
from Necrosis (death) brought about by some de¬ 
fect in the supply of blood to a part, Chronic Ul¬ 
cers, except in malignant conditions or the result 
of a local Trauma (blow) are extremely rare. The 
tendency of all Catarrhal conditions of the Mucus 
Membrane is to become, first hyperplastic (thick¬ 
ened) and subsequently toughened and hardened 
so that the natural trend is against ulceration, and 
when we consider Ulcers of the stomach and in¬ 
testine we can consider them largely as the result 
of local defective blood supply, rather than the 
outcome of progressive stages of stomach Catarrh. 

The frequency of ulcers of the stomach, from my 
experience, and this experience will cove a great 
many thousands of cases that I have had oppor¬ 
tunity to examine thoroughly, is rare. About one 
case in a thousand will be suspicious of ulcer of 
the stomach. This statement is in marked contrast 
with the prevalence of the diagnosis made by the 
X-Ray experts and the various surgeons. In fact 
it is a very frequent occurrence for me to have an 
X-Ray plate that shows nothing other than a thick- 


208 Water in Disease and in Health 

ened pylorus, due to the spastic condition result¬ 
ing from a displaced stomach, diagnosed as Gastric 
Ulcer. Analysis of the stool in practically all of 
these cases negates these finds. Neither pus nor 
fat being found, and the clinical outcome upon re¬ 
turn of the stomach to its normal position further 
negates the presence of ulcer. The most common 
location of Gastric Ulcer is in the origin of the 
pylorus. These, however, are far more rare than 
is generally recognized. In thirty years of prac¬ 
tice, I have seen but four cases where I had diag¬ 
nostic evidence of Ulcer of the Duodenum. The 
grave outcome of ulcer of the stomach is emaci¬ 
ation, because of the hemorrhage, and actual de¬ 
pletion of diet due to the patient’s apprenhension 
to take food; and the constant pain, lack of re¬ 
pose and sleep. In contrast with the general con¬ 
ception of Pyloric, Gastric or Duodenum Ulcers, 
I have always considered these conditions very be¬ 
nign and simple in their severity. Primarily, it 
must be kept in mind that, if given opportunity, 
Ulcers of the Stomach, Pyloric, and Duodenum, 
cure themselves by limitation, that is, when the 
parts that have been denied their blood supply 
have sloughed away, the healthy tissue will be sur¬ 
rounding, and this healthy tissue will rapidly pro¬ 
mote the formation of scar. However, infrequent¬ 
ly, as in Fissure (small ulcer) of the Rectum, the 
contracting and relaxing power constantly breaks 
open the scar formation, retarding the healing and 


Digestive Diseases 


209 


frequently makes the ulcer organic in character. 
As in Fissure of the Rectum the treatment must he 
directed towards securing rest to enable Nature 
to promote cure, so must the condition be afforded 
in the stomach. In conditions of Ulcer of the 
Stomach located in the body of the stomach this 
is very readily obtained. The mere complete con¬ 
traction of the stomach to its fullest extent and the 
absence of food affords proper relaxation. This 
supplemented by the Osmotic Action of Water 
keeps down the local congestion or inflammation 
and in these cases a cure is usually very prompt. 
Not infrequently in these cases will the parts en¬ 
tirely slough out and scar tissues be formed within 
a week. However, when the Ulcer occurs in the 
Pylorus where the circulating fibers predominate, 
the defects are greater. With the complete relax¬ 
ation of the muscular coats obtained when the 
stomach is contracted fully beyond the fifth and 
seventh ribs, there is a marked relaxation of the 
pylorus. Active stimulation of the Vagus Nerve 
therefore will promote relaxation, evacuation of 
the Gall-Bladder, in my hands, has greatly added 
to the relaxed condition in and about the pyloric 
opening. In fact, I make it a uniform rule to 
evacuate the Gall-Bladder. This has further salu¬ 
tary effect in that the bile is moderately antiseptic 
and by neutralizing the acid content soothes the 
part. The Bile being strongly alkaline neutralizes 
the Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach. Thus it 


210 Water in Disease and in Health 

can be seen that in promoting recovery from Gas¬ 
tric or Pyloric Ulcer we must concentrate upon 
promoting relaxation of the muscular coats of the 
stomach. The use of the stomach tube in these 
conditions is to be encouraged. In spite of the fact 
that not infrequently they are accompanied by 
marked Hemorrhage, the washing of the stomach 
with a moderately Bland Alkaline solution soothes 
the stomach content and promotes relaxation, and 
upon the first evidences of distress repeated stom¬ 
ach lavage is indicated. 

It must be kept in mind that the purpose of our 
treatment is to promote as rapid a cure as possible 
with no after effects. With active motion and a 
failure to form proper scar tissue, the surrounding 
tissue becomes thickened and indurated (harden¬ 
ed) and in people of advanced years this thickened, 
hardened, tissue is apt to become progressive, 
which in reality is Cancer. It is my conviction 
that fully fifty per cent, of Cancers of the Stomach 
owe their origin to a neglected Stomach Ulcer, 
where the stomach has been afforded opportunity 
to exercise excessive contracting motion. 

Diet in Gastric Ulcer will depend much upon the 
ability of the patient to obtain rest after the meal 
has been digested. Where the patient is in a fairly 
well-nourished condition, and this is usual in Acute 
Gastric Ulcers, the first seventy-two hours should 
be spent quietly, preferably in bed, after the stom¬ 
ach has been completely contracted and cleansed 


Digestive Diseases 


211 


by a bland antiseptic lavage, and the patient dir¬ 
ected to drink a glass of water hourly, preferably 
Distilled Water because of its Osmotic power. Ad¬ 
ditional draining of the congestion will be afford¬ 
ed by the use of the Local Cold Wet Pack over the 
chest and abdomen, changed every two hours. 
After the seventy-two hours it is usual for the 
processes of repair to have advanced sufficient to 
warrant an ingestion of a meal. In these condi¬ 
tions the mixed diet, with the restrictions that I 
have set forth, will be most bland, that is, variety 
of food renders the meal more bland than any 
single food. After the meal has opportunity to 
digest and pass into the intestines, that is about 
two hours after eating, the stomach should be wash¬ 
ed out thoroughly with a bland alkaline solution, 
and should be massaged. The duration of an Acute 
Gastric Ulcer will rarely exceed a week under the 
treatment of Osmosis. 

Chronic Gastric Catarrh 

In these conditions the patient is usually emaci¬ 
ated, racked with pain and apprehensive of eating. 
In these cases the treatment will not permit of 
starvation. The stomach should be thoroughly 
contracted, the content rendered bland by means 
of lavage, the Gall-Bladder emptied, Local Cold 
Wet Pack applied, and once a day a fairly hearty 
meal of mixed foods should be indulged in. Three 
hours after eating the stomach should be washed 


212 Water in Disease and in Health 

out thoroughly. In these cases, however, effort 
must be made to promote the recuperative powers 
of the patient. Fresh air and sunshine, well-boiled 
foods, in fairly liberal quantities should be given 
for the daily meal. Keeping in mind the great 
object being to check the inflammation about the 
ulcer before the processes of Hyperplasia become 
so great that they are characterized as Cancer; in 
these cases it is not a question of cure, but it is 
a question to cure quickly before the almost in¬ 
evitable arises. 


Gastric Cancer 

Just to the extent that we can check the forma¬ 
tion of Hyperplasia by Osmotic Action of Water 
are we able to prevent the formation of Cancer in 
the stomach. It is a grave question in my mind 
to what extent this Osmosis will check in the 
early stages of formation of Cancer in the stomach. 
Theoretically, if persisted in for weeks at a time 
the lack of cellular activity, which accompanies ex¬ 
cessive blood supply, whether it be venous or arte¬ 
rial, is decidedly salutary in checking the forma¬ 
tion of Cancerous Tissue. It should be explained 
here, that Cancerous Tissue is not a tissue that 
is abnormal in the Human Economy, but rather 
is an excessive growth of a Normal Tissue which 
because of the rapidity of the growth becomes 
malignant. Various diagnostic measures have 
been advanced as to the recognition of the early 


Digestive Diseases 


213 


states of Cancer of the stomach with the formation 
of scar tissue and Hyperlastic growth, the glandu¬ 
lar element is destroyed, and consequently less Hy¬ 
drochloric Acid is found in the stomach. The in- 
hibitive amount of Hydrochloric Acid being 
marked, promotes the formation of Lactic Acid, 
which otherwise would be prevented in the pres¬ 
ence of abundant Hydrochloric Acid. 

However, the progressive loss of weight and the 
absence of desire for food are the cardinal systoms 
of Gastric Ulcers, and these frequently manifest 
themselves long before any Tumor may be dis¬ 
covered. The merits of operative procedure are 
questionable. In all cases where Cancer of the 
stomach is suspected, in its early stages, it is my 
conviction that the opportunity of recovery is 
better secured by thorough rest of the organ in a 
fully contracted position, and thorough Osmotic 
Action promoted, than by means of operative pro¬ 
cedure ; for the shock of an operation further de¬ 
pletes the patient and opens fresh avenues for 
growth of the Cancerous Tissue. 

In substance, the best treatment for Gastric 
Cancer is Prophylactic, in promoting the quick re¬ 
covery from Gastric Ulcer. 

Diet List to Supplement This Chapter 
DIET LIST 

(“This Diet List has been carefully selected and 
must be STRICTLY followed/’) 


214 Water in Disease and in Health 
Meats 

All boiled meets (beef, corned beef, mutton or 
lamb, and ham; chicken or other fowls; tripe or 
venison). 

Roast beef, roast mutton or lamb, roast chicken, 
turkey, squabs or reed birds (should not eat roast 
pork or veal.) 

Tender broiled steak or lamb chops (without 
pepper, onions, or sharp seasoning). 

Fish 

All boiled or baked fish may be eaten; avoid shell 
fish (crabs, lobsters, oysters, clams and mussels.) 

Fried Meats and Fried Fish of all Varieties 
Must Be Avoided 

Vegetables 

All boiled or baked vegetables may be eaten (ex¬ 
cept onions, garlic, tomatoes, radishes, horse-rad¬ 
ishes, cabbage, sour-kraut, cauliflower, cucumbers, 
corn, and preserved or stuffed olives). 

May eat raw celery, lettuce, or water cresses. 

Fruits 

All cooked fruits may be eaten (except raisins, 
currents, figs, or dates and prunes). 

Raw fruits should be slowly eaten and thorough¬ 
ly masticated. Sugar assists in their digestion, and 
bananas should be well dusted with sugar before 
eaten. (Should not eat pineapples, peaches, apri¬ 
cots or strawberries). 


Digestive Diseases 215 

Dairy Products 

Certified or Pasteurized milk should be boiled 
before used, and drunk only when warm. Eggs 
must be fresh and soft-boiled or poached. Do not 
eat hard-boiled or fried eggs. Unfermented cheese 
may be eaten (pot-cheese, Neuchatel). Do not eat 
sharp or odorous cheese. Diluted condensed milk, 
sugared or unsweetened may be drunk. Mellin’s 
Food, malted milk, Nestles’ Food, are highly in¬ 
dorsed. Matzoon, Zoolac, Bacalac or other fer¬ 
mented milks should not be used unless especially 
directed by the physician. Fresh milk not chem¬ 
ically treated, may be drunk. Sweet butter and 
untainted salted butter, and oleomargarine may be 
freely eaten. 

Bread 

Bread should be thoroughly masticated and 
eaten in moderation (wheat bread produces fat). 
Avoid sour breads. Dry breads absorb saliva more 
readily and are easiest to digest. 

Bolls, biscuits and home-made and not highly 
seasoned cake may be eaten. Home-made pies in 
moderation, except cranberry and mince pies. 
Avoid pastry or tarts or dessert with crusts con¬ 
taining lard. Avoid bran-breads. 

Cereals 

Must be thoroughly cooked; (avoid PI. O. Quak¬ 
er Oats, or fermented cereals.) Plain or Irish 


216 


Water in Disease and in Health 


oatmeal, boiled rice, farina, (no Cream of Wheat), 
wheatena, hominy and corn-meal in moderation. 
Corn starch is easily digested. 

Beverages 

Phillips’ Digestible Cocoa is indorsed, chocolate, 
cocoa, freshly made tea without milk, hot milk, 
light beers, mineral waters are permitted. Should 
not Drink Coffee,, wines ales or liquors. 

Desserts 

Ice cream and the iced juices of fruits may be 
eaten. Cornstarch, junket, custard and preserved 
fruits when sugared and not otherwise preserved. 
Do not Eat Nuts nor the Pits or Seeds of 
Fruits. 

NOTE—Water drunk on empty stomach pro¬ 
motes evacuation of the bowel and lessens conges¬ 
tive and fermentative changes. DRINK COOL 
WATER FREELY ON RETIRING AND 
RISING. 

NOTE—Water may be freely drunk before a 
meal, but should not be used to wash food from the 
mouth into the stomach during a meal as this pre¬ 
vents the saliva from being properly mixed with 
the food, and checks the digestion of the starches. 

NOTE—Sharp gravies and pepper and spices, 
onions and garlic juice must not be used in season- 


Digestive Diseases 


217 


ing the meat or fish. Lemon juice, olive oil and 
celery may be used. 

SHOULD NOT EAT PRESERVED OR 
SPICED MEATS OR FISH. 

NOTE—Gentle massage over the stomach after 
a meal assists digestion; slapping and rotary 
pressure are sufficient. 


CHAPTER XVII 


Diseases of The Intestines 

The frequency of complications of the Intestines 
with conditions of the stomach is probably less 
than one in twenty, yet because of the failure to 
relieve the latter by the usual means of alkalies 
and laxatives, there is a broadcast general belief 
that Intestinal Diseases are common. Such is not 
the fact. For instance, in approximately 50,000 
cases that I have had opportunity to make physical 
examination of I have been able to find but two 
cases of Duodenal Ulcer, and it is extremely rare 
that the autopsy will reveal any pathological con¬ 
dition in the membranes of the the larger or of the 
smaller bowel. The bowel in itself is not only an 
astringent, but has an efficient disinfectant action, 
and consequently it is extremely rare that any 
pathological condition exists, either in the small or 
large intestine where there is a slightly normal flow 
of bile into these organs. However, occasionally, 
we have a Catarrhal Condition in one or all of 
the parts of the small intestine. This condition, 
however, is never primary and is always compli¬ 
cated and dependent upon some lesion of the liver 
or the stomach. It is a matter of first importance, 
therefore, that in all conditions affecting the small 

218 


Diseases of the Intestines 


219 


intestine the Gall-Bladder be promptly emptied in 
order to obtain the astringent and disinfectant 
action of the liver. 

Massage of the Gall-Bladder requires much less 
skill than is usually considered. The contents of 
the abdomen are semi-fluid and consequently any 
pressure on the abdominal walls is directed more 
or less upon the Gall-Bladder. The massage should 
begin on the lower portion of the abdominal wall, 
pressing upward and from side to side making the 
pressure as deep as possible with the flat of the 
hand, forcing the Gut and Omentum against the 
lower border of the liver where the Gall-Bladder 
is located. The hands should be gradually forced 
upward until they are practically below the ribs 
and a little to the right of the median line and with 
one hand pressing upward, the other should rotate 
locally over the Gall-Bladder. It is possible, in 
the vast majority of cases, for the individual in this 
manner to evacuate the Gall-Bladder. However, 
in a small proportion of cases it is advisable that 
this be done by a physician or some member of 
the family. 

Gall-Stones 

It is surprising with what ease a certain number 
of Gall-Stones are expelled from the Gall-Bladder 
thru the Gall-Duct into the intestine. However, 
in a certain proportion of cases these gall-stones 
find their way into the intestine with no other 


220 


Water in Disease and in Health 


pressure or force than a slight contraction of the 
muscular fibers of the Gall-Bladder. When one 
considers that Nature is able to expel the child thru 
the small opening of the Cervix of the Uterus, it 
is not to be wondered, that the same dilatation is 
afforded the thin walls of the Gall-Duct. 

Gall-Stones are a very common condition. Fully 
five per cent, of the people after maturity have 
Calculi in the Gall-Bladder. However, these as a 
rule afford no discomfort and it is only when they 
enter the Gall-Duct that we have Biliary Colic. 
A Stone that can enter the Gall-Duct with the slight 
force that is capable of being exercised by the thin 
muscles of the Gall-Bladder, can be further pro¬ 
pelled thru the Gall-Duct by the additional press¬ 
ure from massage of the Gall-Bladder. It must 
be kept in mind that with the modification of the 
Gall-Duct by the obstruction of the Stone in the 
Duct, there is within the Gall-Bladder, and behind 
the Stone a certain amount of fluid bile which upon 
pressure has a wedge-like effect, similar to the bag 
of water in the Uterus, which serves to dilate the 
Gall-Duct and afford the Stone passage into the 
intestine. 

In a large percentage of cases, contraction of 
the stomach affords sufficient relaxation of the 
Pyloric muscles about the outer opening of the 
Duct to promote the passage of bile into the in¬ 
testine. 


Diseases of the Intestines 


221 


Most physiologists contend that the passage of 
bile into the intestine is merely accompanied by 
the entrance of food from the stomach. However, 
the food cannot enter the intestine from the 
stomach until the Pyloric muscles at the end of 
the stomach become relaxed, and with contraction 
of the stomach we have a relaxed condition of the 
Pylorus, and consequently opportunity is afforded 
the bile for a fairly continuous flow into the in¬ 
testine. Therefore, every effort should be made, 
in conditions of impacted Gall-Bladder, or Gall- 
Stones, to maintain the stomach in a fully contract- 



The Liver Viewed From Behind 
S howing position of Gall-Bladder 



222 


Water in Disease and in Health 


ed condition. Again, it must be borne in mind that 
with the distended condition of the Gall-Bladder 
the muscles of this organ are weakened and do 
not as readily expel the bile as they would other¬ 
wise. Consequently, massage of the Gall-Bladder 
and the Stomach should be maintained for several 
weeks at frequent intervals, following the expulsion 
of Stones or Biliary Gravel. 

Keeping in mind the fact that the presence of 
water increases the fluidity of all secretions, Water 
should be drunk freely in bulk when the stomach 
is empty. In these cases, the custom of drinking 
two glasses of cold water, preferably Distilled 
Water, one hour before meals, has a decidedly 
beneficial effect. The High Colon Irrigation re- 
flexly stimulates evacuation of the bowel, and 
should always Antedate any attempt to massage 
the Gall-Bladder. I frequently find the Spastic 
condition in and about the Pylorus decidedly re¬ 
laxed after a High Colon Irrigation, in contrast 
with the irritation antedating the Colon Lavage. 

It must be borne in mind that Hydraulic press¬ 
ure is always exerted in the direction of least re¬ 
sistance. The muscular coats of the Gall-Bladder 
are much stronger than those of the Duct and con¬ 
sequently the Duct becomes quite readily obliterat¬ 
ed under pressure, similar to the Cervix in the 
Uterus at childbirth. 

Unfortunately, malignant growth in and about 
the liver and the Gall-Bladder very often simu- 


Diseases of the Intestines 


223 


lates Gall- Stones and where we fail to expel the 
Stone after repeated manipulations, or fail to 
empty the Gall-Bladder of its bile or Biliary 
Gravel, we must be alert to the possibilities of 
Cancerous Growth in and about this section. 



In Jaundice conditions, either from stasis with¬ 
in the liver or from inflammatory changes in and 
about the Gall-Duct and Gall-Bladder, manipula¬ 
tion of the liver and the Gall-Bladder is sometimes 
painful. The pain should be the guide for the 






224 


Water in Disease and in Health 


amount of pressure exerted but we must discrim¬ 
inate between real pain and apprehension. Unless 
the Jaundice Condition be due to Malignant 
Growths in and about the Gall-Bladder, Jaundice 
will rapidily disappear, after four or five days, 
with complete and repeated evacuation of the Gall- 
Bladder. 

The diet in these cases should be of such a nature 
as to increase the fluidity of the bile. Eggs should 
be avoided and cooked fruits encouraged. The 
citrus fruits, that is the orange, lemon and grape¬ 
fruit have a mild Cholagogue Action on the Liver 
and should be taken freely either in the form of 
beverages or as compotes . 

As a very general rule, expulsion of the Gall- 
Stone into the intestines is accompanied by a “ pop¬ 
ping sound” followed by a gurgling of the dis¬ 
charge of the bile, and during massage we should 
be alert to observe these evidences. Not infre¬ 
quently we can detect a lessening in the size of the 
Gall-Bladder under massage and usually great re¬ 
lief is experienced immediately as the Stone or 
Bile leaves the Duct. When once the Stone reaches 
the intestine it is benign and is readily expelled 
with the stool. Failure to detect the Stone in the 
stool is not satisfactory evidence that it has been 
removed. The process of observing the stool is 
tedious and is a somewhat difficult matter, but with 
the subsiding of all manifestations in and about 
the abdomen, we can rely upon the Stone being ex- 


Diseases of the Intestines 


225 


pelled into the intestine. To relieve inflammatory 
changes in and about the liver from a condition of 
Gall Stone attack or Jaundice, the use of the Local 
Cold Wet Pack is indicated and the High Colon 
Irrigation should be practiced twice daily, which 
in addition to reflexly promoting relaxation in and 
about the Pylorus and Gall-Bladder with increased 
discharge of bile, has the additional benefit of re¬ 
ducing inflammatory conditions because of the 
Osmotic Action of the Water in the intestines. 

Appendicitis 

Certain diseases are associated with the Diges¬ 
tive Tract and prominent among them is the so- 
called Appendicitis. When I approach this subject 
I recall the so-called prevalence of this disease, 
but I have had opportunity to examine with thor¬ 
oughness approaching 60,000 cases of abdominal 
diseases, and have never been able to satisfy my¬ 
self that this obsolete organ can physiologically or 
anatomically of itself become inflamed. Primarily 
this useless piece of gut is not functional in the 
human frame . Frequently in early life it is almost 
insignificant in size, and sometimes it is as long as 
eight or nine inches. The average length, how¬ 
ever, is four inches. It is attached in part to the 
Caecum, which can be located on the chart on page 
ninety. 

Practically every pain of the Digestive Tract has 
been attributed to Appendicitis. The so-called Me- 


226 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Burney’s Point that is midway between the prom¬ 
inence of the Pelvis and the Navel, and which is 
considered the main diagnostic symptom of Ap¬ 
pendicitis, is four inches away from the actual 
location of the Appendix, and is in reality usually 
the location of the Duodenum, which is more than 
fifteen feet along the digestive canal, away from 
the Appendix. 

Keeping in mind the fact that the only thing 
the Appendix does within the human body is to 
shrivel up and decay, any question of attributing 
this inflammation to the result of functional de¬ 
rangement cannot be considered. Again, the fact 
that the circulation of the Appendix is much less 
than that of the surrounding tissues, to wit, the 
Caecum, the proneness of the Appendix to inflam - 
mation is much less than is this latter organ . 

On the autopsy table, occasionally, we will find 
the Appendix entirely obliterated, and yet during 
life the patient has experienced no distress in and 
about this location. Again, in old people we find 
the Appendix has remained its normal size. I have 
never been able to detect any scar tissue in the 
Appendix nor have I found any records in any 
Medical Works or attendant fields, where any 
Cicatrix has been found in the Appendix. Ap¬ 
pendicitis while extremely rare is secondary to 
local complications. One case I saw was of Tuber¬ 
cular Origin with general Tubercular Involvement 
of the Caecum. Another case of possible involve- 


Diseases of the Intestines 


227 


ment of the Appendix was due to the suppurative 
generation of the Dermoid Cyst that was attached 
to the right Ovary, the Caecum, and to the Ap¬ 
pendix. 

The symtoms attributed to Appendicitis in over 
ninety-five per cent, of my cases, were nothing 
other than Pyloric Spasm of the Duodenum. Un¬ 
fortunately this condition of Spasm, as I have de¬ 
scribed, is frequently accompanied by other in¬ 
fections. The rapidity with which the stomach is 
affected by an acute attack of Malaria renders this 
menace of operative procedure in these cases ex¬ 
tremely grave. It must be borne in mind that 
Malaria is primarily a disease of the blood, in 
which the oxygen carrying power of the blood is 
gravely lessened, and the further depletion of the 
oxygen by means of an Anaesthetic, and the shock 
attending the operation not infrequently results 
in death. 

The presence of Malaria is not recognized by the 
Laity or the Physician. However, if the opera¬ 
tion is insisted upon and it is decided that the 
operation shall be performed, it is highly impera¬ 
tive that a Local Anaesthetic shall be used to avoid 
the grave shock and depletion that accompany the 
use of Ether, Chloroform, or Nitrous Ether, where 
the patient has either Acute or Chronic Malarial 
Manifestations. 

I have had the opportunity at the hospital, to 
examine fully one thousand cases that had been 


228 


Water in Disease and in Health 


sent in for operative procedure, and in every case 
I found no symptom that would warrant my arriv¬ 
ing at the conclusion, that the patient had Appen¬ 
dicitis. In private practice and in the hospital I 
have examined fully twice this number of cases, 
that had been operated upon for Appendicitis, 
where the symptoms returned and were identical 
after three or four months, and they proved to 
be nothing other than Spasm in and about the Py¬ 
lorus. There is no doubt that the prolonged rest 
to the stomach necessary in these cases, accompan¬ 
ied by a thorough evacuation of the bowel content, 
not infrequently affords temporary relief, but I 
have never seen a case where sooner or later the 
symptoms did not manifest themselves identically 
with those antedating the operation; unless it has 
been a case of Secondary Appendicitis where the 
primary cause has been removed. 

In order to emphasize certain classes of cases 
that are attributed to Appendicitis, I would cite 
several recent experiences. 

(1) Mr. A. G. Athlete, experienced pain in the 
side after a scrimmage. X-ray examination, de¬ 
scribed as follows, “Thickening in and about the 
Appendix.” Symptoms were, pain about the so- 
called McBurney’s Point with occasional vomiting; 
general condition of lassitude. Operation consid¬ 
ered imperative. Arrangements made at the hos¬ 
pital to have the Appendix removed. My examin¬ 
ation revealed the lad to have a Gastroptosis with 


Diseases of the Intestines 


229 


Spasm at the Pylorus radiating down to the Duo¬ 
denum. Under massage all symptoms disappear¬ 
ed, the stomach returned to its normal place and 
the patient discharged as cured. 

(2) Mr. J. D. taken sick with profound chill, 
vomiting and general abdominal distress; tender¬ 
ness at McBurney’s Point. Consultation of three 
physicians; operation immediate. Examination 
of blood showed the patient to be suffering with 
nothing other than Acute Tertian Malaria. Under 
the use of Quinine and a Sweat he completely re¬ 
covered. 

(3) Mr. T. G. a young lad of tender years, 
taken sick in the middle of the night with cramps, 
colic, headache and nausea. Family physician 
called in two surgeons, and operation for Appen¬ 
dicitis was performed in the emergency . The case 
considered hopeless. The next night the lad broke 
out in the rash of Measles and made a complete 
recovery. (There was an epidemic of Measles in 
this section, and no examination had been made to 
reveal the presence of this disease.) 

(4) Mrs. A. R. was taken sick with grave dis¬ 
tention in and about the stomach and intestine, 
with pain radiating down the left side. Her Appen¬ 
dix was removed and she remained in the hospital 
for four months. She was informed that a second 
operation was necessary to remove the stump of 
the Appendix. Examination revealed a Dilated 


230 Water in Disease and in Health 

Stomach, and under treatment she made a rapid 
recovery. 

It must be kept in mind that operations for re¬ 
moving the Appendix, primarily consists in tying 
off the Appendix before it is amputated, and the 
ligation itself necessarily produces the Venous 
Congestion, so that the term “ Congestive Appen¬ 
dicitis’ ’ should be looked upon with marked skep¬ 
ticism. Again, the so-called statement of the Rup¬ 
tured Appendix should be regarded as not being 
anything exceptional as the very function of the 
Appendix is to shrivel up and if part of the Appen¬ 
dix has been ruptured, it is only logical to conclude, 
that this is the result of the natural process of 
decay in this part. 

Verifying My Claims, I Insert A Recent 
Publication 

The “Chronic Appendix.”—Whiteford, in The 
Practitioner, reaches the following conclusions: 

1. The enormous number of patients whose ab¬ 
dominal ailments are now diagnosed as Chronic 
Appendicitis chiefly consist of cases with symtoms 
of widely-varying causation and for which symp¬ 
toms the Appendix is not responsible. 

2. The symptoms attributed to the Chronic 
Appendix are not explained by the pathological 
findings, and are not cured by removal of the Ap¬ 
pendix. 


Diseases of the Intestines 231 

3. The operation for removal of the Chronic 
Appendix not only fails to cure, but frequently 
makes the patient worse. 

4. Attribution to the Appendix of abdominal 
discomforts of obscure origin hinders investigation 
into the causes of abdominal pain. 

5. In the surgeon, the Chronic Appendix theory 
produces laxity in diagnosis and, in operating, 
incisions so small that thorough examination of 
the abdominal contents is made a mechanical im¬ 
possibility. 

6. In the layman, the operation for removal of 
the Chronic Appendix, because of its failure to 
cure and because of its after-effects, is producing 
doubt about the necessity for operation in acute 
appendicitis and mistrust in the bona tides of the 
surgeon. 

7. The Chronic Appendix theory, judged by 
the test of the ability of the operation for removal 
of the Appendix to rid the patient of his symptoms, 
is found wanting. 

8. In the interests of surgeons and patients 
the diagnosis of Chronic inflammation of the Ap¬ 
pendix as a condition requiring operation should 
be abandoned. 

It is fair to conclude that at least fifty thousand 
operations are performed annually for this so- 
called lesion. During Acute Manifestations oper¬ 
ative procedure is frequently the cause of grave 
complications. Involuntarily the patient swal- 


232 


Water in Disease and in Health 


lows a very considerable amount of the Anesthetic 
which is extremely irritating to the stomach and 
to the kidneys. As a consequence it aggravates 
any inflammatory changes which may be present. 
In all conservatism, I could strongly state that 
Primary Appendicitis is extremely rare. Also, 
that the tenderness in and about McBurney’s Point 
and the vomiting are in no way significant of any 
disease of the Appendix, that the so-called blood 
content has no more significance of degenerative 
changes in and about the Appendix than it has in 
degenerative changes in the human body, and to 
say the least it is extremely farcical to attempt to 
diagnose the Appendix by means of the blood con¬ 
tents. Again, no operation should be performed 
upon this organ, and a general Anesthetic given, 
where any manifestations of Acute or Chronic 
Malaria are present. Also, that before any opera¬ 
tion be performed the entire Alimentary Canal 
should be cleansed as far as possible by the 
Stomach Lavage and the High Colon Irrigation; 
the Gall-Bladder should be Evacuated and the 
Stomach Contracted to its fullest extent and the 
Pylorus obliterated. When these steps have been 
taken, I am confident that not one case in a thou¬ 
sand of the so-called Appendicitis condition, will 
need any further Treatment to relieve all these 
manifestations. There is nothing new in the al¬ 
legations of the great benefits obtained by abdomin¬ 
al massage. More than thirty years ago Professor 


Diseases of the Intestines 233 

Pepper elaborated upon the results obtained by 
this method, and the art of massage in the past 
three decades has become an almost obsolete prac¬ 
tice. As in all inflammatory conditions in and 
about the Abdominal Canal the congestion and in¬ 
flammatory changes are relieved by the use of the 
Local Cold Wet Pack. It is advisable to re¬ 
peat the application every two hours . The diet in 
these cases should receive special attention. With 
the Spastic conditions in and about the Pylorus 
the Hydrochloric Acid will usually be found in 
excess. Not infrequently Butyric Acid will be 
found also present. Well-boiled cereals and well- 
boiled fruits in the nature of compotes should con¬ 
stitute the bulk, taking care to avoid fermented 
cereals. Sugars should be encouraged as the pres¬ 
ence of sugar always promotes the conversion of 
starches more rapidly than otherwise into their 
sugars. (The end product of a ferment stimulates 
its fermentation.) 

Secondary Appendicitis is occasionally the re¬ 
sult of Pyo-Salpingitis, that is pus in and about 
the Fallopian Tube. Where the inflammatory 
changes throw out an exudate into the Pelvic 
Canal, occasionally there will be some adhesions 
formed that may involve the Appendix. I per¬ 
sonally have never seen such a case, altho theoret¬ 
ically it might occur, and in this event with re¬ 
moval of the diseased Ovary or Tube the cutting 
away of the affected portion of the Appendix is 


234 


Water in Disease and in Health 


justified. However, these are extreme cases where 
the poison calls for radical removal. 

Rectal Fistula 

The cause of Rectal Fistula is, not infrequently, 
and some surgeons go so far as to say that they 
are always, Tubercular in origin. My own person¬ 
al experience would cause me to believe that they 
were justified in this claim. It must be kept in 
mind that the depleting effect of an actively dis¬ 
charging Fistula requires prompt measures to ef¬ 
fect a cure. Therefore in operative measures we 
should always supplement the operation by Hy- 
genic measures to improve the general condition 
of the patient. Occasionally, the persistent use of 
the High Colon Irrigation supplemented by the 
general mixed diet, in which bananas play a very 
important role, has met with complete recovery. 
As a fairly general rule, these are cases that 
should be operated upon because of the presence 
of the Tubercular Bacilli in the pus. It should be 
borne in mind that the Fistula is nothing other 
than a circumstantial manifestation of the local 
condition, and mere obliteration of the canal in it¬ 
self not infrequently results in a return of the 
condition. 


Sprue 

This condition in reality is an infection and 
while its manifestations appear on the gums and 


Diseases of the Intestines 235 

tongue, not infrequently they will be found gen- 
aerlly distributed thruout the Alimentary Canal. 
Because of the readiness with which this condition 
clears up, after disruption of the infection by 
means of a disinfectant, the Hydrotherapeutic 
Treatment of this disease is inferior to the Medi¬ 
cinal. These cases respond very quickly to Calo¬ 
mel in minute doses . In young infants the one- 
tenth of a grain of Calomel dissolved in a 
tablespoonful of water, placed in the infant’s 
mouth and the mouth held closed so that the in¬ 
fant must swallow the same, usually secures ap¬ 
plication of the Calomel (Mercury) to the affected 
tongue and gums as well as generally thruout the 
Digestive Tract. The use of the High Colon 
Irrigation with the addition of a small quantity of 
Alkaline Antiseptic Tablets is useful in disinfec¬ 
ting the bowel in these cases. With the infant 
under two years of age the use of Calomel should 
be repeated in this dose every two hours. For 
the infant over two years of age, one-fifth of a 
grain of Calomel every three hours until the pa¬ 
tient has had five or six doses which will usually 
prove sufficient. 

Because of the readiness with which the infec¬ 
tion will undergo cultivation in milk, it is advisable 
that the use of the breast or cow’s milk be avoided 
for two or three days. Plain gruels of barley or 
oatmeal should be substituted for the milk. 


236 Water in Disease and in Health 

Pyorrhea 

While not attempting to enter the field of dentis¬ 
try in this discussion, it would appear that a 
certain percentage of physicians are obsessed with 
the idea that practically all the evils that the human 
frame suffers from, owe their origin to the gen¬ 
eration of pus in and about the roots of the teeth. 
A broad-minded discussion of this question is use¬ 
ful. There is no organ in the human body so open 
to infection as is the oral cavity. Dust, dirt, food, 
fingers and practically everything serves to intro¬ 
duce all forms of germs into the mouth cavity. 
When I was a student in Berlin, one of my col¬ 
leagues was able to isolate twenty-eight different 
germs in the mouth and gums. So that, it is logical 
to conclude that Pyorrhea is one of the results 
rather than the cause of the many ailments which 
are attributed to the presence of pus in and about 
the roots of the teeth. 

The rule of extracting all the teeth and the pa¬ 
tient’s substituting them with false teeth, should 
he condemned. There is no question but that the 
actual Necrotic Teeth should be removed and ample 
drainage afforded the cavity, but inability to masti¬ 
cate food as well by artificial teeth as by means of 
the natural teeth, is a very strong argument against 
their removal. 

Rheumatism and Neuritis now prominently 
attributed to Pyorrhea are more apt to be the out- 


Diseases of the Intestines 


237 


come of fermentive changes in the Digestive Tract 
which are largely brought about by improper mas¬ 
tication, than by the mere presence of pus at the 
roots of the teeth. 

It has been advocated that this pus is swallowed. 
The Pyo-genic germs (pus producing) are found 
in avenues in the cavity of the mouth even with 
practically sound teeth, and were the claims of 
these physicians, who attribute so many ailments 
to decayed teeth, based upon logical reason, Eso¬ 
phagitis (inflammation of the gullet) would be a 
constant disease, whereas it occurs so very seldom 
that it is considered one of the extremely rare 
diseases. It must be borne in mind that the Tonsils 
are loaded with White Corpuscles ready to pounce 
upon any offending bacteria as part of their prey, 
and these much abused organs act as sentinels in 
the upper digestive tract . 

Hydrochloric acid is a powerful antiseptic. Bile 
in itself is a powerful antiseptic and quite rare 
is it that we find any Pyo-genic germs in the 
stomach or small intestine. 

Auto-Intoxication 

Auto-Intoxication is a much abused term and is 
frequently attributed as being the result of Pyorr¬ 
hea ; while pus to a certain extent may be absorbed 
by the blood with none of the acute symptoms of 
Septicemia (blood poisoning) the eliminating 
ability of the bowel and the kidneys can be pro- 


238 


Water in Disease and in Health 


moted to meet sufficient drainage by means of the 
use of the High Colon Irrigation, to meet any 
such possibility. Not a few conditions of Pyorr¬ 
hea can be attributed to sleeping with the mouth 
open. Nature has provided that the oral cavity be 
largely a closed cavity, and the pressure of air is 
from within outward, in this way preventing large¬ 
ly the introduction of germs. However, in condi¬ 
tions of Adenoids, the mouth is frequently called 
upon to supplement the Nasal Air Passages. 

The simple remedy of tying an empty spool to 
the middle of the patients back so that when he 
sleeps on his back (and the patient that opens his 
mouth and snores usually sleeps on his back) the 
pressure of the spool will be so uncomfortable that 
involuntarily he will roll over and sleep on his 
side, and thus, prevent the introduction of many 
germs that are capable of producing Auto-Intoxi¬ 
cation. 

While Auto-Intoxication may arise from the 
presence of pus in the large bowel, this is always 
secondary to some other lesion, and with the Verti¬ 
go Dizziness, Cardiac Palpitation and Malaise, that 
manifest themselves with this condition, the 
massage of the Gall-Bladder and the High Colon 
Irrigation should be persisted in, and in the vast 
majority of cases will be met with immediate 
benefit. 


Diseases of the Intestines 
Peritonitis 


239 


Peritonitis is rarely a primary or Acute Disease. 
It is usually secondary to some pelvic infection. 
Simple and primary Peritonitis is extremely pain¬ 
ful, but readily responds to Hydrotherapeutic 
Treatment. Occasionally, the origin of this condit¬ 
ion is a blow on the abdomen. In fact all the cases 
of primary Peritonitis that I have observed were 
attributed to a blow. Striking the abdomen 
against the bedpost or the door-knob, accidents 
where the abdominal wall strikes some protuding 
article, a kick, even that of an infant in arms, has 
been the cause. The Local Cold Wet Pack, follow¬ 
ing the High Colon Irrigation meets with prompt 
results. However, in these cases food should be 
abstained from for twenty-four hours, as the pres¬ 
ence of food in the Alimentary Canal promotes 
peristalic movement and aggravates the pain. 
Water, on the other hand, by increasing the Os¬ 
motic Action drains off the congested condition in 
the Peritoneal Sac, and the patient should drink 
freely of water . Best in bed is very necessary. 
Secondary Peritonitis, usually produced by Irri¬ 
tant Fecal mass or Gonorrheal Infection, should re¬ 
ceive removal of the cause, and in addition the 
Local Cold Wet Pack and the High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion. Where the infection has become general and 
the distention pronounced, in spite of the pain, the 
High Colon Irrigation should be repeated twice 


240 


Water in Disease and in Health 


daily, and the rectal tube permitted to remain with¬ 
in the rectum to enable the escape of the gases. In 
conditions of collapse the General Warm Tub Bath 
should be maintained, that is, the jiatient should be 
placed in a fairly warm bath covering her entire 
body, with the exception of the face, and this should 
be maintained for at least one to two hours, and in 
some cases much longer. The general Osmotic 
Action of the warm bath will rapidly drain off the 
congestion of the Peritoneum, and enable Nature 
to generate Autogens before collapse intervenes. 
In these cases, the poisons from the infection gen¬ 
erate rapidly, and the patient should be given 
plenty of Warm Drinks accompanied by the Gen¬ 
eral Hot Bath to insure proper drainage thru the 
Kidneys. Drainage of the affected Tubes or Uterus 
should be afforded. These cases should avoid all 
food, until all acute manifestations have subsided 
in order to afford rest to the stomach and small 
intestine. 


Pancreatitis 

This is usually a secondary condition notwith¬ 
standing the conclusions reached by a recent ob¬ 
servation in Diabetes. Among the causes of sec¬ 
ondary or dependent Pancreatitis is obstruction of 
the Common Duct. It must be borne in mind that 
the Duct that empties the Pancreatic Gland juices, 
unites with the Gall-Bladder Duct, and forms the 
Common Duct, which in turn enters into the small 


Diseases of the Intestines 


241 


intestine; and any obstruction in the Common 
Duct, such as found in Gall-Stones or inflammation 
of this Duct, results in a congestion and a stoppage 
of the flow of the Pancreatic Fluid. Pyloric Spasm 
will also close the opening of the Common Duct, ex¬ 
citing the same condition in a modified form. Press¬ 
ure such as tight corsets produces inflammation 
of this organ. The Pancreatic Juices contain 
Amylopsin which has the power of converting the 
starches into sugars in the presence of Bile. Con¬ 
tention that derangement of the Pancreatic Gland 
is the direct cause of Diabetes does not merit logi¬ 
cal reason. The cause in Diabetic conditions, is 
a defect in the conversion of Sugars into Glycogen 
which is fat, rather than that the Pancreatic Juices 
convert the starches into sugars. While it is true 
that the secretion of the Internal Glands, (Thy¬ 
roid, etc.) promote the activity of the white cor¬ 
puscles in the blood in the destruction of Glycogen 
yet this function can in no way be attributed to the 
Pancreatic Gland. However, it is possible that 
the Pancreatic Gland is capable in one of its 
elements of stimulating activity in the liver and 
the absence of this element in the Pancreatic 
Juice may result in a failure on the part of the 
liver, to perform the function of converting Chyle 
and Chyme (digested food of the stomach and in¬ 
testine) into Glycogen. However, this function of 
converting food into Glycogen is more readily at¬ 
tributed to the stimulation received from the glands 


242 Water in Disease and in Health 

of internal secretion, as well as thru the sympa¬ 
thetic nerve system promoting coordination of 
functional activity. It is a well-known fact that 
any disturbance of the brain matter, more especial¬ 
ly at the base of the brain known as the Medulla, 
will frequently result in Diabetic manifestations. 

The treatment of Pancreatitis is removal of the 
cause. The twice daily use of the High Colon Ir¬ 
rigation and Local Cold Wet Pack changed at 
every two hours interval. In these conditions it 
is highly advisable not to put an excessive strain 
upon the starch conversion property of the Pan¬ 
creatic Juices, keeping in mind that the supply ex¬ 
cites functional activity in the Human Economy 
and cooked starches should be avoided. However, 
raw starches are not readily attacked by the Pan¬ 
creatic Juices, and reflexly encourage the flow of 
Bile; so that a moderate indulgence of raw fruits 
can be given. However, during all acute manifes¬ 
tations it is advisable to have the diet exclusively 
proteid in character, that is meats and eggs. 

Hepatitis 

Primary Hepatitis is an extremely rare condi¬ 
tion, but it is a frequent accompaniment of infec¬ 
tions such as Typhoid Fever, Pneumonia, Scarlet 
Fever and Measles, in fact all Acute Infections, to 
a greater or lesser degree excite derangement in 
these Glands. Correction of the cause is the first 
treatment. General abstinence of food for the first 


Diseases of the Intestines 


243 


twenty-four hours is indicated. In fact it is char¬ 
acteristic of this condition that food is repugnant 
to the patient. Anorexia, (loss of appetite) is 
characteristic of Typhoid, Malaria and Pneumonia 
due undoubtedly to the congested condition in the 
liver. The High Colon Irrigation thru its Osmotic 
Action as well as reflex stimulation of the organic 
activity, is the ideal treatment in these conditions, 
and should be practiced at intervals of every four 
or five hours. If the condition is complicated by 
inflammation of the Gall-Bladder or Gall-Duct 
this organ should be emptied by massage. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


Heart Diseases 

The general conception that Diseases of the 
Heart are commonly fatal, is largely based upon 
the fact that their progress towards recovery is 
not one of repair to the diseased tissue, but one of 
accommodation where Nature supplies the sub¬ 
stitute for the defect. In other words, compensa¬ 
tion must be arrived at in order to effect what is 
called a cure of these diseases . 

Compensation, in contrast to repair, is slow and 
progressive, and the grave danger in heart diseases 
is the failure to give Nature opportunity and time, 
to make this necessary accommodation or compen¬ 
sation. Perhaps an illustration of this might clear 
the situation. Take the most common of diseases 
of the heart, that is, the Leaking Mitral Valve. The 
force of the contraction of the Left Mitral excites 
the forcing back, more or less, of the blood into the 
Left Auricle, and a failure to propel the normal 
flow of blood into the large artery. Thus, it can 
be seen that the normal blood pressure being re¬ 
duced in these conditions, the heart necessarily be¬ 
comes more labored in its action, and a general 
disorder in the circulation is ultimately reached. 

Normally, Nature would correct this condition; 

244 


Heart Diseases 


245 


first by the stretching of the walls of the Left Ven¬ 
tricle so that the volume of the blood to be expelled 
would be increased; secondly, it would develop an 
increased muscular tissue to propel the blood more 
efficiently from the Left Ventricle, and when the 
proper amount of blood-supply, and the proper 
amount of muscular power was reached, the health 
and vigor of the individual would not be interfered 
with. However, the Valve would not be corrected 
and the Leak would continue, but the tissues would 
receive ample nourishment and circulation, and the 
blood pressure would be sufficient for health. 

Fundamentally, therefore the great element in 
heart conditions is rest . It can be readily under¬ 
stood that the heart is working under difficulties, 
and anything that would interfere with the func¬ 
tioning of the heart, would add to the labor, and 
compensation may either not be sufficient, or be¬ 
come excessive under these conditions. 

Let us take up the various diseases of the heart. 

Pericarditis 

Pericarditis may be Septic. I saw one case at 
an autopsy, in Urban Hospital, Berlin, where the 
pus in the Pericardial Sac contained a Gonorrheal 
Germ, but this is extremely rare and accompanied 
always by a general Septicemia, (blood poison- 
ing). 

Pericarditis is a very rare disease. It is inflam¬ 
mation of the Bag or Sac which covers the heart, 


246 


Water in Disease and in Health 


much similar to the Pleura covering the lungs. 
The surfaces are smooth and secrete the serous fluid 
which enables the pumping action of the heart to 
be effected with no friction. When it does occur it 
is extremely painful having a constant stabbing 
pain in the region of the Apex of the heart and 
rhythmatic to the heart beat. 

Like Pleurisy there is no remedy which meets its 
rapid correction so efficiently, as the prolonged Hot 
Dry Pack, preferably the Hot Cabinet Pack. The 
treatment of this disease should be prompt and 
efficient. The irritation excited by the pain is very 
apt to throw excessive muscular effort on the heart 
and injure the Valvular Structure of the heart 
walls. 

The Cardiac distress from Spasm in and about 
the Pylorus is liable to be mistaken for Pericardi¬ 
tis, and care should be taken to afford proper con¬ 
traction of the stomach and relaxation of thePy- 
lorus in all cases of suspected Pericarditis before 
the sweat is undertaken. 

Fully ninety-five per cent, of Cardiac or heart 
distress is reflex from the stomach. In all condi¬ 
tions of Heart Disease the Stomach should receive 
exceptional attention, so as to relieve any compli¬ 
cation that might arise. To get a better under¬ 
standing of this, it is necessary to have knowledge 
of the nerve supply of the stomach, heart and lungs. 
Generally speaking, the stimulating nerves of 
motion consist of Ganglions (groups) of nerves, 


Heart Diseases 


247 


which excite muscular action in these organs. They 
are separate and distinct, and simply packed upon 
the organ in which they are located. On the other 
hand, the motor inhibitory or motor control nerve 
is primarily connected with the brain, that is the 
Pneumo-Gastric or, as commonly called the Vagus 
Nerve, and spreads over the heart, lungs, stomach, 
liver and part of the intestines. 

Thus it can be seen where we have an excessive 
muscular stimulation in the stomach, and reflexly 
an excessive muscular stimulation thru this nerve 
to control this excessive action in the stomach, we 
have an Extreme inhibition of the lungs, heart and 
the liver. The characteristic palpitation that 
comes from agitation is a simple illustration of 
this. The faint that follows a blow in the Solar 
Plexus is another illustration. The Vertigo from 
impaction of the Gall-Bladder, to a modified extent, 
is also illustrative of this. 

Thus it can be readily seen that before we arrive 
at the grave conclusion that the heart is affected, 
it is decidedly imperative that we be certain that 
the condition is not a reflex from the stomach, the 
liver, or the lungs. 

Unfortunately, most of the Medical Authorities 
are prone to make the Lungs secondary in their 
Lesions to the Heart; while in reality the prob¬ 
abilities are, that most of the Lung Lesions that 
excite heart conditions are primary, and the Lesion 


248 Water in Disease and in Health 

in the Heart is merely the outcome of the condition 
in the Lungs. 

In correcting Asthmatic conditions where the 
Heart is involved, the treatment should be concen¬ 
trated on the Asthma rather than on the Heart. 

Myocarditis 

Myocarditis is a secondary condition resulting 
from either the stomach, liver, lungs, or defects 
in the lining of the muscle itself. Myocarditis in 
reality is inflammation of the muscle of the heart, 
and can only be produced by a blow or a strain. 

Practically all Carditis is the result of a strain. 
The rhythmatic soreness in and about the heart, 
with occasional stabbing pain running from the 
Apex of the heart up to the left shoulder are the 
symptoms. The treatment of this condition is rest, 
not only in bed but rest to the stomach, liver and the 
lungs. 

The Local Application of the Ice Pack over the 
Heart is indicated. The Apex of the Heart lies 
directly beneath the Pleura, and close to the chest 
wall, and prolonged cold will be radiated into the 
actual muscle itself. With the entrance of cold we 
have the inhibitory effect on the motor-stimulating 
nerves, when the heart muscle and the heart 
stimulation is then reduced to the minimum; thus 
affording the inflamed and strained heart , best 
opportunity to recover. This Ice Pack should be 
maintained over the heart from thirty-six to 


Heart Diseases 


249 


seventy-two hours. The patient should be fed on 
the blandest of diet. Skimmed Milk is readily 
tolerated in the stomach, and in addition the excess 
of water increases the action of the kidneys and 
drains off the blood affording a reduction in the 
blood pressure. 

For the first seventy-two hours of this disease 
the diet should be exclusively Skimmed Milk. 
High Colon Irrigation should be practiced at least 
once in twenty-four hours, and where there is any 
gaseous distention the rectal tube should be per¬ 
mitted to lie within the rectum above the internal 
spincter to permit the rapid escape of gas. 

With the application of the Ice Pack over the 
Heart, evidence of collapse will rapidly disappear. 

The use of Heart Stimulants cannot be too vigor¬ 
ously condemned. The custom of Hypodermically 
using Strychnine in these cases is counter-indicated 
as it destroys Nature’s opportunity to meet this 
condition, and aggravates it. 

Endocarditis 

It can be readily recognized that the lining of 
the heart is practically a continuation of the lining 
of the blood vessels, and the only avenue of disease 
must necessarily 3ome from the blood itself. It 
can readily be seen that the infection or the prod¬ 
ucts of improper tissue changes that exist in the 
blood, more easily find deposit in the finer crevices 
of the Heart Chamber, that is, in and about the 


250 Water in Disease and in Health 

Valve itself and its tendinous attachment. 

Again, the tension or labor put upon these valves 
necessarily renders them more susceptible to dis¬ 
ease, than tissues that are not called upon to per¬ 
form such strenuous work. Thus, it is that in many 
diseases of grave type where the blood is affected, 
we have, frequently, a deposit of the infection in 
and about the valvular portions of the heart lining . 
Scarlet Fever and Diptheria, are frequently ac¬ 
companied by a mild Endocarditis. Rheumatism 
because of the excessive amount of Sodium Urate 
found in the blood is frequently accompanied by 
Endocarditis. In the treatment of this first men¬ 
tioned disease it should be a matter of first impor¬ 
tance to correct the Cardiac involvement. 

Again, the Kidneys being the safety valve of the 
quantity and quality of the blood within the blood 
vessels, it can be readily recognized that any defect 
which would stop this safety valve from discharg¬ 
ing the excessive quantity of blood, would nec¬ 
essarily result in a distention and increased blood 
supply, and increased labor upon the Valves to 
prevent the blood from being damned back into 
their Heart Chambers, or into the veins themselves. 
Consequently, progressive conditions of the kid¬ 
neys are always accompanied by an increased strain 
upon the Valves of the Heart, with dilatation of 
the chambers, and greater muscular effort. So that 
it is a matter of grave importance, during every 
acute and every chronic disease, that the safety 


Heart Diseases 


251 


valve of the blood, that is the Kidneys, perform 
freely its function of draining off the quantity of 
the blood. 

While evacuation of the bowel is periodic, the 
actual discharge of the waste material from the 
blood into the bowel, or High Colon, is constant. So 
that, to assist and relieve the Kidneys in all acute 
conditions it is very necessary that the Colon have 
f reeOsmotic Action to discharge the waste material. 
In other words, with the increased discharge of 
the waste material into the water in the Colon, 
there is a relatively increased seeping of water into 
the circulation, and consequently, such waste prod¬ 
ucts as are not carried off by the bowel are diluted, 
and rendered bland by the increased fluidity of 
the blood. Thus, it can be readily seen how very 
important it is, and what far reaching benefits are 
obtained, by the use of the High Colon Irrigation 
in every acute manifestation, not only to abort and 
lessen the disease, but also to prevent grave results 
in the heart. 

In all acute manifestations of Endocarditis, the 
diet should be the minimum. Rheumatic manifes¬ 
tations are the most common in the heart. It is 
characteristic of the Urate of Soda to become 
attached to part of the white fibrous tissues that 
line the heart and the joints. Not infrequently are 
these Soda deposits found Calcified in and about 
the tendons and valves of the heart at autopsies. 
As I described in the chapter on Rheumatism, the 


252 Water in Disease and in Health 

rapid evacuation of the Gall-Bladder, and the 
rapid elimination of waste products, as well as the 
moderation of the diet, should be the treatment in 
all Rheumatic manifestations of the heart. Need¬ 
less to add that these cases require absolute rest . 
The visits of friends should be positively pro¬ 
scribed. In fact, during all acute manifestations 
of Rheumatism and Gout, the patient should sus¬ 
pect the probability of heart involvement, and 
during that period should not aggravate the con¬ 
dition by any excessive strain upon the heart 
action. 

Chronic Valvular Conditions 

In a work of this character we must generalize. 
The finer points in diagnosis are not necessary. 

The Hydropath seeks results, and seeks Nature’s 
method to overcome these results, and as his effort 
is to cooperate with Nature, the minute differences 
of heart involvement play practically unimpor¬ 
tant part. The text-books are filled with obstruc¬ 
tive valvular conditions, insufficient valvular con¬ 
ditions, regurgitant valvular conditions, etc. 
However, fundamentally, there is an improper 
promotion of the blood because of some Organic 
Lesion within the mechanism of the pump, that is 
the heart. If it be in the right side of the heart 
the early manifestations are in the lungs. If it 
be in the left side of the heart the early manifes¬ 
tations are otherwise in the body. Our great aim 


Heart Diseases 


253 


is to help Nature to meet this defect, and in capi¬ 
tal letters our intentions should be prescribed in 
HEART REST. 

In these conditions, fundamentally, we have an 
excessive stimulation, because of the labor with¬ 
in the heart muscle of the motor-stimulating 
nerves, and reflexly the excessive stimulation of 
the motor-controlling nerve, that is the Vagus 
Nerve. So that, as a constant factor in these con¬ 
ditions we have excessive heart stimulation and 
anything that will tend to increase heart stimu¬ 
lation, such as Digitalis, Strychnine, Spartine, etc., 
is simply increasing the very thing that we wish 
to correct and modify. Where there is a deranged 
and insufficient action in the heart to meet a fairly 
good accommodation, it is due to excessive stimu¬ 
lation, and lack of coordination between these two 
systems of nerves, and are thus stimulating where 
our aim should be to modify. Whenever this con¬ 
dition exists, the Local Ice Pack over the Apex 
of the Heart is indicated. As I described in the 
beginning of this chapter, the heart being directly 
beneath the chest-wall, the prolonged freezing 
moderates the action of both the motor-stimulating 
and the motor-inhibitory nerves of the heart, and 
moderately lessens the deranged action. There is 
no menace in the use of this Ice Pack provided 
twice daily the Pack is removed, and moderate 
massage for three or four minutes is performed 
over the heart . Even in conditions where there is 


254 


Water in Disease and in Health 


a fair compensation with practically little or no 
Cardiac distress, the custom of placing a piece of 
ice, wrapped in a napkin, over the heart and main¬ 
taining it in position for an hour or so on retiring 
has a far reaching beneficial effect. In the soothed 
condition accompanying and following the use of 
this Ice Pack, the patient in his sleep affords the 
best rest for the heart. 

Of equal importance is the necessity of requir¬ 
ing the heart to do little or no work. The less blood 
pressure we have, the less difficulty the heart has 
to propel the blood thru the vessels, and conse¬ 
quently the safety valves of the blood pressure 
should be promoted to their most efficient func¬ 
tional activity. The drinking of two glasses of 
cold water on rising, when the stomach is empty, 
will usually secure free diuretic action of the kid¬ 
neys, and will promote evacuation of the bowel. 
This should be the positive routine custom of every¬ 
one suffereing from even the slightest form of 
Valvular trouble. It should be supplemented by 
the bi-weekly or more frequent use of the High 
Colon Irrigation to insure satisfactory elimination 
of the Colon and the kidneys. 

The diet plays a very important role in these 
conditions. The general custom of eliminating 
meat, because of the excessive formation of Urates, 
should be modified. Keeping in mind the close 
relationship thru the Vagus Nerve to the Heart, 
food should be as a general rule, bland. The use of 


Heart Diseases 


255 


coffee and condiments, such as peppers, spices, 
etc., should not be allowed. On the other hand, 
it must be borne in mind, that we are fundamental¬ 
ly endeavoring to secure a compensation, and to a 
certain degree an excessive development, and we 
require ample nourishment in these cases. In the 
case of gradual improvement, we obtain the best re¬ 
sults from a moderate mixed diet. In cases of 
fairly Advanced Valvular Derangement, where 
Dropsical manifestations have begun, the cooked 
fruit and Skimmed Milk diet should be strictly 
adhered to. 

The fatality of Valvular Lesions is greatly ex¬ 
aggerated. In my early student days we were 
taught that a Mitral Lesion of the Heart was of 
a year and a half duration, and yet I have seen 
cases that had a decided pronounced Mitral Re¬ 
gurgitation live in apparent comfort, performing 
light labor, for twenty years, and die of other 
lesions. In other words, with the affording of op¬ 
portunity for the heart to accommodate itself by 
increased capacity for receiving blood, and an in¬ 
creased muscular development for expelling blood, 
Nature will meet this emergency. Occasionally, 
Inhalation of Oxygen in these conditions is ex¬ 
tremely beneficial. In fact in all conditions of 
collapse, oxygen should be the sole medium to pro¬ 
mote recovery. Rarely, is an excessive strain upon 
the left heart sufficient to excite collapse, and it 
is only when the right heart is involved that we 


256 Water in Disease and in Health 

have conditions of extreme prostration manifest. 
With the inhalation of oxygen, relief is very read¬ 
ily afforded in these cases. The custom of five to 
ten minutes exposure to oxygen at the noon-hour 
is one that should be encouraged. It will relieve 
and rest the heart from the labors of the morning 
and re-strengthen it for the additional work of 
the afternoon. 

It is my conviction that men past fifty would 
benefit greatly if they had an oxygen tank in their 
offices and instead of a hearty meal at the noon- 
hour, they would indulge in a five minutes inhal¬ 
ation, followed by a light lunch. 

When Dropsical conditions manifest themselves, 
the skin should be called upon to assist in the 
elimination. Contrary to the general conception, 
the Hot Cabinet Pack when the patient has ample 
access to fresh air, rapidly invigorates the exhaust¬ 
ed patient, because of the lessening of the blood 
pressure which it accomplishes. The duration of 
the Hot Cabinet Pack or the Hot Dry Pack depends 
upon the severity of the Dropsical manifestations. 
Where the Dropsy is advanced, the sweat should 
be prolonged and vice versa, but it is always a good 
practice to prolong the sweat than otherwise. An 
occasional whiff of oxygen during the sweat in ex¬ 
treme cases will prove a splendid invigorator. 


CHAPTER XIX 


PULMONAKY DISEASES 

Contrary to what the general impression is. I 
begin my discussion of this class of diseases by 
saying that the vast majority of pulmonary condi¬ 
tions are secondary, and not primary in their 
origin. This may seem strange to the public, as 
well as to the Medical Profession but the fact re¬ 
mains that a logical analysis of the subject will 
verify my statements. 

We find in a healthy Lung and a healthy Bron¬ 
chial Tube the germs of the various Pneumonias. 
Lobar and other Pneumonias present germs that 
are inert in the presence of healthy tissue and 
healthy blood circulation, and it is only when we 
have some derangement in the actual tissue itself 
or some depleting condition in the blood, or some 
disturbance in the circulation of the blood in the 
lungs or the Bronchial Tubes that we have actual 
disease of this system of organs. 

It is not very uncommon for a man, not exposed 
to contact with any contagion or infection, to feel 
severe fatigue or suffer exposure to wet and cold, 
either of which is capable of deranging the circu¬ 
lation of the pulmonary system, to develop Lobar 
Pneumonia. Localized Lobular Pneumonia is a 


257 


258 Water in Disease and in Health 

common complication of any Cardiac disturbance, 
such as we find in Endocarditis or in Hepatitis, 
caused by the deranged circulation. The extreme 
strain of a Paroxysm of whooping cough not in¬ 
frequently excites a Broncho-Pneumonia. The 
Cachexia of Malaria will very frequently result 
in an incipient form of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. 
While again, the congestive manifestations of an 
Acute Malarious Infection will very frequently 
result in an Acute Pneumonia. 

Because of the frequency of this latter condition, 
during my student days it was the uniform prac¬ 
tice to treat Pneumonia successfully with liberal 
doses of quinine. Enlarged spleen is prone to 
excite pressure, (in spite of the strong tendinous 
muscle of the diaphragm) upon the left lung, and 
the involvement of the left lung in contrast with 
that of the right lung occurred in the greater 
number of cases. 

Typhoid Fever very frequently is the producing 
cause of Pneumonic manifestations. Head injury 
and very commonly the degenerating changes of 
old age, result in Catarrhal Pneumonia. 

The general conception that we become readily 
infected in the lungs, because of the innoculation 
of various germs is erroneous. Practically no 
foreign bodies, even minute bacteria, ever find their 
way into the Bronchial Tubes. In other words, 
in correcting Pulmonary conditions it is a matter 
of first importance to seek out the exciting cause 


Pulmonary Diseases 


259 


and to eradicate it. It must be kept in mind, that 
the lung tissue is tough, yellow, elastic, having 
practically no functional activity other than to 
support the blood vessels, and by the elasticity of 
the tissue itself, expels air with the relaxation of 
the muscles of respiration. There is practically 
little or no cellular element in the lungs, and the 
circulation of the lung tissue itself in contrast with 
the lining of the air passages is extremely slight, 
as inflammatory and degenerating changes, rarely, 
if ever, actually involve the lung tissue, and if so 
are merely the results of continuity, and are slowly 
progressive in character. Autopsies rarely show 
any destruction of the actual lung tissue, even in 
advanced conditions of Tuberculosis, the destruc¬ 
tion being confined largely to the air passages. It 
is very important to keep this fact in mind, be¬ 
cause of the drainage which is afforded the air 
passage; the air passages having more or less 
connection into the mouth and nose. This affords 
drainage an opportunity to expel the Necrotic 
Exudate of inflammation of the air passages and 
air chambers. 

Anatomically and physiologically speaking, pul¬ 
monary conditions should be among those consid¬ 
ered of the less serious of the ailments that effect 
the Human Economy. However, they are looked 
upon as being the most common and the most grave 
of diseases. This is largely because it is not rec¬ 
ognized that these Pulmonary conditions are the 


260 


Water in Disease and in Health 


result of other conditions, and are largely secon¬ 
dary to them. Fully thirty per cent, of Tubercular 
patients will present manifestations of Malaria in 
their blood and spleen, and the great benefit obtain¬ 
ed in the woods and at the seashore, in a number 
of these cases, is due to the increased oxygen which 
the depleted blood of Malaria is able to obtain in 
these sections. 

Pneumonias are extremely rare in the Torrid 
Zone in contrast with the Temperate and Frigid 
Zones and yet Malaria predominates in the first 
mentioned place. This is largely due to the fact 
that the active perspiration of the skin drains 
sufficient blood from the lungs to prevent any dis¬ 
turbance in the circulation of the air passages. 
When we speak of circulation of the lungs, it must 
be borne in mind, that the circulation is really the 
circulation of the air passages and air chambers, 
and not of the actual lung tissue; this tissue circu¬ 
lation being practically insignificant. The nutri¬ 
tion required by the lungs being extremely mod¬ 
erate and in the absence of cellular element in the 
issue there is practically little or no tissue changes 
going on in the actual structure of this organ. 

Pharyngitis 

Pharyngitis is commonly called a Sore Throat. 
The fact that in this disease swallowing is painful 
is indicative that the diet should be temporarily 
fluid. Unless there be an actual involvement of 


Pulmonary Diseases 


261 


the Tonsils, (I will take up the question of Tonsil- 
itis in a separate chapter) these conditions readily 
correct themselves. The old-fashioned habit of 
giving Johnny a dose of Castor Oil, and putting 
him to bed and giving him a sweat should be sub¬ 
stituted by the use of the High Colon Irrigation 
and the application of the Local Cold Wet Pack, 
not only over the throat, but extending over the 
chest and abdomen as well. 

Laryngitis 

Laryngitis is generally characterized by hoarse¬ 
ness. The same treatment is indicated as in 
Pharyngitis, except that the patient should not 
add to the irritation of the vocal chord, and should 
abstain from speaking until all inflammatory 
changes in and about this organ have subsided. 

Bronchitis 

Bronchitis is usually secondary. The condition 
is one that affects the air passages, and is depend¬ 
ent upon deranged circulation. This may be dis¬ 
puted, but when we keep in mind the fact that 
practically every form of disease producing germ, 
can be found somewhere within the air chambers 
in the healthy lung, it can be recognized that there 
must be some depleting condition that promotes 
these germs to excite disease. It is my conviction 
that the very process of oxidation of the blood is 
in itself effectively Antiseptic, and it is only where 


262 Water in Disease and in Health 

there is some condition which interferes with this 
oxidation, that the pathological results from bac¬ 
teria occur. This is borne out clinically. Prac¬ 
tically every condition of Pulmonary disease will 
improve during the administration of oxygen, and 
when this remedy is more frequently administered 
in Pulmonary conditions it is largely probable that 
its Therapeutic value will become recognized. 
Whether it be of Acute or Chronic manifestation, 
the treatment is to correct congested conditions, 
and promote normal oxidation in the parts. Any¬ 
thing which tends to relieve the congestion is in¬ 
dicated. In young children the Hot Dry Pack will 
be found usually satisfactory; but it is far inferior 
in these cases to the Local Cold Wet Pack. The 
Cold Wet Pack should be applied from the throat 
to the knees and in the presence of fever should be 
repeated every hour, but with the disappearance 
of the fever, every two hours application will be 
sufficient. 

No effort should be made to check the cough. 
The use of Paregoric and Sedatives to relieve the 
cough is criminally antagonistic to the physiolog¬ 
ical efforts of Nature to throw off the waste prod¬ 
ucts of the inflammation. With the relief of the 
local congestion it will usually be found that the 
manifestations of the cough and irritation will dis¬ 
appear within from ten to fifteen minutes, follow¬ 
ing the application of the Cold Wet Pack. Osmotic 
action of the High Colon Irrigation, as well as its 


Pulmonary Diseases 


263 


reflex stimulation of the liver, should be repeated 
twice daily in these conditions. The diet in Bron¬ 
chitis whether Acute or Chronic should be bland 
and light. The cough is apt to excite muscular de¬ 
rangement in the stomach contractions, and coarse 
foods should be avoided. However, a well cooked 
general mixed diet is advisable. 

Be suspicious in every case of Bronchial involve¬ 
ment, of the possibility of Malaria. One of the 
best guides is where the Bronchial condition be¬ 
comes intermittent. Where the relief is not per¬ 
manent it can, with a fair degree of certainty, be 
concluded that an underlying condition of Malaria 
exists. 


Pneumonia 

The line of demarkation between Bronchial 
Pneumonia and Pneumonia is so insignificant, that 
it requires no discussion in a book of this character. 

With the pronounced chill, and the fever follow¬ 
ing, we readily accede the involvement of the air 
passages. In other words, the process of inflam¬ 
mation has passed beyond the tube, and has gone 
into the air chambers, rather one of increased ex¬ 
tension of involved tissues. The treatment is iden¬ 
tical. The High Colon Irrigation, application of 
the Cold Wet Pack, changed hourly during the 
manifestations of cough and fever, and subsequent¬ 
ly every two hours. Diet in these cases should be 
light; avoid coarse foods. 


2(>I 


Water in Disease and in Health 


In discussing Lobar Pneumonia. I wish the 
reader would keep in mind the statement that I 
made at the beginning of the chapter, that is, that 
all Pulmonary conditions are largely secondary . 
During my early years of practice in the Borough 
of Brooklyn, this dread disease was extremely 
prevalent. All the manifestations typical of Lobar 
Pneumonia were common. This section was par¬ 
ticularly Malarious. The hat plains in the East 
New York section were loaded with the Malaria 
poducing mosquito that swarmed in from Canarsie. 
The Williamsburg section, Maspeth, Newtown, etc., 
were loaded with swamps in which Malaria thrived. 
These conditions were exceptionally fatal, and 
their fatality seemed to increase with the introduc¬ 
tion of the use of Coal-tar products to treat them. 
It was an easy thing for the physician to give five 
or ten grains of Antipyrine, check the cough and 
reduce the fever, but usually the third day to write 
out a Death Certificate. 

In several hundreds of these cases I found the 
actual germ of Tertian Malaria present, and it 
was my rule to always treat Lobar Pneumonia as 
one of the manifestations of Malarious infection. 
Altho I practiced in this Borough for ten years, 
it is my pride to say that I never lost a case of 
Lobar Pneumonia, though I treated more than a 
thousand of these cases in the ten years of my 
practice in that city. My preceptor made it a uni¬ 
form practice to treat Lobar Pneumonias with 


Pulmonary Diseases 


265 


liberal doses of Quinine. His routine practice in 
Lobar Pneumonia was to prescribe five grains of 
Quinine every three or four hours, and these heroic 
doses gained for him an exceptional success in the 
treatment of this class of disease. Altho he was a 
man of superficial medical knowledge he treated 
the primary cause of Pneumonia, and in this way 
relieved the condition. 

I have come to look upon Pneumonia as a dis¬ 
ease of rare and benign type. The rapid results 
from Hydrotherapeutic Treatment have convinced 
me that its seriousness lies, not in the actual con¬ 
dition in the lung, but, in the primary cause of this 
condition. Physicians as a rule are gravely in 
error when they concentrate their examination to 
the chest in conditions of Bronchitis and Pneu¬ 
monia, and the regularity with which they ignore 
examination of the blood, and the spleen is almost 
criminal in its neglect. Keeping in mind that the 
circulation of the air passages and the Bronchial 
tubes is very active, it can be readily recognized 
that these, thru any congestive disturbances, can 
quickly result in inflammatory changes in and 
about these air chambers. The very activity of 
the circulation of the air chambers is indicative of 
the rapidity with which the congested condition in 
the lungs can be corrected. It is a source of great 
astonishment, the rapidity with which all evidences 
of Pneumonia will disappear, when the blood is 
rapidly drained from the air passages into the 


266 


Water in Disease and in Health 


skin and other organs. Not infrequently it is pos¬ 
sible to correct the cough and fever within an hour, 
even checking the various stages of “Hepitation” 
(Exudate). 

The first treatment of Pneumonia should be the 
High Colon Irrigation. Reflex draining from the 
liver affords almost instantaneous relief while the 
Osmosis into the Colon will relieve the blood press¬ 
ure very rapidly. Where the temperature reaches 
104° or above, the General Cold Wet Pack is in¬ 
dicated, even enveloping the ears and neck, and 
merely affording opportunity for respiration and 
an opening to the oral passage to feed water. 
Where the temperature is below 104° the Local 
Wet Pack will be found sufficient. 

Doctors Winternitz and Guenther, claimed that 
the vapor generated next to the skin under the wet 
cloth produced marked local diaphoresis (sweat). 
However, the Osmotic action, in my opinion, is of 
more importance than the excitement of the sweat. 

It must be kept in mind, that whether the case 
be one of Lobar or Croupous Pneumonia, Lobular 
or Bronchial Pneumonia, the infection is always a 
mixed one, so that the Toxins or the Autogens are 
best generated by Nature within the body of the 
patient. For this purpose the copious drinking 
of water should be encouraged as well as a fairly 
frequent use of the High Colon Irrigation. In 
grave conditions, the High Colon Irrigation can 
be used as often as every five hours. 


Pulmonary Diseases 


267 


Frequently we are unable to arrive at what is 
the primary cause of the Pneumonia, as usually 
we find present a number of conditions which can 
be attributed as the exciting causes or one of the 
exciting causes, and it is in accordance with pru¬ 
dence to attack every possible condition that would 
excite Pneumonia. Evacuation of the Gall-blad¬ 
der by massage will relieve the circulation and dis¬ 
charge a great many poisons that are generated in 
the liver and otherwise, and massage of the Gall¬ 
bladder should be practiced. 

The acute manifestations of Malaria should 
primarily be met by the use of Quinine. It is not 
prudent to undertake the correction of Malaria in 
grave cases during early manifestations of Pneu¬ 
monia, by the use of excessive sweat as we use in 
uncomplicated Malarias, because of the resistance 
Nature affords in marked febrile conditions to the 
production of diaphoresis. In grave Pneumonias 
I unhesitantly advise a minimum use of Quinine. 
However, in the ordinary Pneumonia with tem¬ 
perature under 104° this will not be necessary, and 
after the disappearance of the Pneumonic con¬ 
ditions, that is after twenty-four hours, the Hot 
Dry Cabinet Pack is recommended. Diet in Pneu¬ 
monia requires special attention. With the shock 
of Pneumonia not only is there a grave derange¬ 
ment in the system of the Vagus Nerves which 
control the stomach, lungs and heart, but there is 
also a marked derangement thru the cerebral spin 


268 Water in Disease and in Health 

al system, and the sympathetic nerve system which 
regulates involuntary activity in the stomach. Con¬ 
sequently, it is largely necessary, that during feb¬ 
rile manifestations, little or no effort be required 
by the digestive system to undergo any functional 
activity. Again, the close proximity, both anatom¬ 
ically and reflexly, between the digestive tract and 
the pulmonary system affords splendid opportun¬ 
ity for the Osmotic effect of water in the digestive 
system to relieve any congested condition within 
the lungs. During the first twenty-four hours the 
patient should be encouraged to abstain from all 
food. 

On the other hand, the oxidizing power of the 
lung is to a greater or lesser degree diminished and 
the blood consequently is less capable of oxidizing 
the Glycogen of food. This condition is one in 
which alcohol, as a food, plays a very important 
role. Alcohol is very readily oxidized and finds 
rapid entrance into the blood. Sugars are substan¬ 
tially nourishing and require practically no di¬ 
gestion in the stomach and merely a diastatic ac¬ 
tion in the intestine. Alcohol and sugar in small 
doses should be the diet in Pneumonia for the first 
twenty-four to fourty-eight hours. Alcohol does 
not interfere with the Osmotic action. While light 
wines and whiskey may be used, since the Volstead 
Act, the quality of alcoholic beverages is so quest¬ 
ionable that grain alcohol, diluted with water and 
sugar, meets the indication more safely than other- 


Pulmonary Diseases 


269 


wise. A teaspoonful of grain alcohol and a tea¬ 
spoonful of sugar into one-half pint of water will 
prove satisfactory food during these stages. Re¬ 
member, that the boiling of water evaporates the al¬ 
cohol very readily, and if it be desired that the 
sugar be dissolved more rapidly in the water, the 
water and sugar should be boiled togther, and when 
cool the alcohol added. This food can be given al¬ 
most ad libitum. 

The Medical Profession is too apt to look upon 
the use of oxygen as the means of last resort in 
collapse, to excite increased heart action. The use 
of oxygen in Pneumonia requires less effort on the 
part of the diseased organ, affords rapid destruc¬ 
tion of the infecting germ, and by the increased 
oxygen being absorbed in the blood, rapidly re¬ 
stores depleted tissue changes within the blood it¬ 
self. The curative action of this gas is not 
generally recognized. It is in direct accord with 
the objects of Hydrotherapy to encourage natural 
methods of recovery, and oxygen plays a very im¬ 
portant role in the normal physiological activity 
of the human system. The physician or the 
parent should not wait until collapse has occured. 
The first manifestations of labored breathing in¬ 
dicates that the blood is not obtaining a sufficient 
quantity of oxygen, the patient is making stren¬ 
uous efforts to supply the demand, and this should 
be an indication for the use of oxygen. However, 
as a very general rule, with the early use of the 


270 Water in Disease and in Health 

High Colon Irrigation and the Local Cold Wet 
Pack, the grave symptoms will disappear in a 
very short time, frequently within fifteen minutes. 

The after treatment of Pneumonia requires 
special attention. The right side of the heart, or as 
we usually say, the right heart, pumps the blood 
thru the lungs, as a rule the effort is uniform in 
contrast with the effort on the part of the left 
heart, which increases and relaxes according to 
the demand put upon it, by our voluntary efforts. 
The supply of blood that goes thru the lungs, is 
identical with the quantity which goes thru the 
rest of the entire system. In other words, all the 
blood must be oxidized in the lungs so that the 
vascularity of the air passages is immense, as any 
subjection or restriction throws great labor on the 
part of the heart to overcome it. Following Pneu¬ 
monia a prolonged period of rest is necessary, not 
only to enable the lung to resume its normal con¬ 
dition, but to afford the heart ample rest from its 
excessive action. The prone position in bed, with 
plenty of ventilation, should be maintained in 
Pneumonic cases for at least a week. Most 
of the so-called “Relapse of Pneumonia’’ is noth¬ 
ing other than a failure on the part of the right 
heart to properly propel the blood thru the air 
passages, and the character of the Pneumonic 
changes from the acute type, to the catarrhal type. 

To relieve the congested condition and the labor 
of the right heart as much blood as is possible 


Pulmonary Diseases 


271 


should be maintained away from the lungs. When 
all fevers and cough have disappeared the High 
Colon Irrigation should be maintained twice daily 
for fully a week after these symptoms have sub¬ 
sided. The Cold Wet Pack on retiring at night is 
a splendid preventive against relapse. With the 
return to free respiration, the patient should be 
encouraged to eat largely of proteids, that is meats, 
eggs, milk, fish, etc. The Glycogen of the proteids 
oxidizes more rapidly than does the Glycogen that 
comes from the carbohydrates, and consequently 
less strain is put upon the weakened lung, by the 
almost exclusive diet of proteids. 

For several weeks after the acute manifestations 
have subsided the diet should be almost entirely 
of proteids. 


PLEURISY 

Pleurisy can be classed almost exclusively as a 
secondary disease. Occasionally we may have as 
a result of traumatism or excessive exposure, a 
local congestive condition, but this usually is be¬ 
nign in character. In practically all of the so- 
called Dry Pleurisy, that is Pleurisies that have 
no exudate or fluid in the pleural cavity, I have 
found them to be nothing other than spastic con¬ 
ditions about the pylorus radiating upward 
towards the shoulder blades, usually the right. 
Not infrequently Small Stones passing thru the 
Gall-Duct have been mistaken for Pleurisy. Pleur- 


272 Water in Disease and in Health 

isy as a rule, is secondary to Pulmonary conditions 
and is affected only by continuity of the lung tissue. 
The onset is usually not so rapid as that of the 
lungs, and they become involved only as the condi¬ 
tion in the lungs progress. The efficiency of the Hot 
Cabinet Pack maintained for from five to eight 
hours in these conditions warrants its use in pref¬ 
erence to all others in the treatment of this disease. 
However, where there is a complication of Pneu¬ 
monia, the treatment of Pneumonia will be found 
usually efficient, but frequently we find cases where 
Pneumonic manifestations have subsided and 
Pleurisy with effusion into the Pleural cavity 
present. 

My own conviction is that fluid in the Pleural 
cavity is looked upon by the Medical Profession 
in a rather too grave an aspect. While it is true 
that puss frequently appears in neglected cases of 
this type, yet it is also true that Nature is able to 
absorb and oxidize pus under proper conditions. 
The efficiency of Nature taking up water wher¬ 
ever it can find it, under the stimulation of the 
Hot Cabinet Pack has rarely been recognized. The 
Pleural Cavity is directly under the skin and this 
proximity to the skin plays an important role in 
the absorption of fluid to be excreted by the sweat. 
So that, the fluid in the Pleural Cavity has the 
precedent over the water ingested into the stom¬ 
ach, when the supply is profuse. Where the fluid 
in the Pleural Cavity is excessive the sweat of 


Pulmonary Diseases 


273 


four to five hours duration in the Hot Cabinet 
Pack should be repeated every second day until 
all manifestations has subsided. 

Emphysema is Pleurisy with pus. The treat¬ 
ment is identical with that of Pleurisy. However, 
the pus may become encysted and denied opportu¬ 
nity of absorption. In that event it may be nec¬ 
essary to open the cavity and draw off the pus. 
The custom of excising a portion of the ribs to 
drain off the pus has strong arguments against it. 
With a simple opening the duration is lessened, 
and recovery more rapid in contrast with con¬ 
ditions where a section of the ribs has been re¬ 
moved. When the pus is once drained away the 
repeated use of the Hot Cabinet Pack will usually 
result in disappearance of all manifestations. It 
is impossible to remove a section of the ribs with¬ 
out either severing or injuring the subcostal nerve 
which has the function of not only controlling mus¬ 
cular action, but is a nutrient nerve as well, thus 
the process of repair is interfered with when the 
nerve is in this way affected. 

ASTHMA 

Asthma is a secondary disease and it frequently 
is impossible to find the exciting cause, as many 
conditions will excite Asthma. Among them, Gas- 
troptosis leading; are Polypus, Hay-fever, and 
Valvular Lesion of the Heart. If possible, it is 
advisable in all of these cases to secure proper re- 


274 Water in Disease and in Health 

laxation of the pharynx by contraction of the stom¬ 
ach, and not infrequently this in itself will result 
in correction of the attack. Inhalation of hot 
steam will afford relief during an attack. Between 
attacks the use of the High Colon Irrigation and 
Abdominal Massage should be practiced twice 
daily. The Cold Wet Pack to relieve any con¬ 
gestive conditions in the throat or chest should be 
practiced on retiring. 


CHAPTEE XX 


Tuberculosis—The White Scourge 

Tuberculosis is usually slow in its manifestation. 
Only too frequently these symptoms are remote 
from the time and place of the primary infection. 
The knowledge that the majority of folk are im¬ 
mune to Tuberculosis, has given people in general 
a feeling of safety from the disease. Therefore, 
very little apprehension is felt by most of us in 
exposing ourselves to contact with it. 

The Tubercular germ is found more or less fre¬ 
quently in the air passages and air chambers of 
normal healthy lungs, without any manifestations, 
local or remote, of Tubercular infection. It is a 
question, whether this germ is an accompanying 
factor in the disease or a producing cause. 

Clinically, it would seem that the lining mem¬ 
brane of the air passages and the air chambers, 
when in a fair degree of health, are able to resist 
the encroachment of the various bacteria found 
in these localities. This is true not only of Tuber¬ 
cular germs, but also of the various Pneumonia 
germs. The infection is merely secondary to some 
local or remote cause, other than the germs them¬ 
selves. 

I am convinced that Malarial degeneration of 

275 


276 Water in Disease and in Health 

the blood is a very frequent underlying cause of 
Tuberculosis . In more than thirty per cent, of 
the cases of Tuberculosis examined by me, the en¬ 
larged spleen and the decayed red cell, with oc¬ 
casional actual Plasmodia of Malaria, were pres¬ 
ent. The frequent development of Tubercular 
manifestations following Bronchitis and Pneu¬ 
monia would indicate, not only that the destruction 
of the membranes of the air passages and chambers 
by these diseases offered avenues of entrance to 
the Tubercular germ, but also that the depleted 
vital powers rendered the resistance to the infec¬ 
tion inadequate. 

The remote development of Pulmonary Tuber- 
ulosis, following or accompanying a Tubercular 
Rectal Abscess and Fistula, is due not only to the 
transplantation of the Tubercular infection, but 
likewise to the depleted vitality resulting from the 
Abscess. The frequency of Tubercular develop¬ 
ment, accompanying Syphilitic infection, not only 
in the Pulmonary system, but in the joints, glands 
and bones, is due to the depleted vital powers and 
the lessening of their ability to resist Tubercular 
infection. 

Therefore, it must be remembered that in a vast 
majority of cases—in fact, in practically all cases 
of Pulmonary Tuberculosis—there is an underly¬ 
ing depleting cause, which complicates the Tuber¬ 
cular manifestations, and it should be our purpose 
to correct this underlying cause in our efforts to 


Tuberculosis—The White Scourge 277 

correct this grave and prevalent disease. 

With this in view, every effort must be exerted 
towards promoting physical vigor. All displaced 
organs in the abdomen and pelvis should be re¬ 
placed in their normal position and stimulated 
thru systematic massage . 

As a routine practice in all Pulmonary affect¬ 
ions, the examination should include a thorough 
physical and laboratory test of the abdominal or¬ 
gans and their contents. I know of no graver 
crime against humanity than the indiscriminate 
prescribing of medicine, such as Creosote, Duotal, 
Guaiacol and other irritating drugs and com¬ 
pounds, whose only action is still further to break 
down the digestive functions of the stomach and 
liver. I have seen many patients whose opportun¬ 
ity to regain normal, healthy Pulmonary, con¬ 
ditions were denied them, because of a liver dis¬ 
eased by Creosote. 

The cure of Tuberculosis depends entirely upon 
a favorable Hygienic environment, nutrition and 
rest. In a volume of this size it is impossible to 
discuss the relative value of altitude, air pressure, 
etc., beyond saying that while the underlying cause 
of Tuberculosis is frequently benefited by chang¬ 
ing altitude and environment, these factors should 
not be exaggerated, and the recovery of the patient 
made solely dependent upon the benefits obtained 
from the air and the rest, as is the system followed 
almost solely at Saranac. 


278 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Neither can I see the wisdom in the superabund¬ 
ant proteid diet. Milk and eggs have very little 
waste, and therefore excite very little activity on 
the part of the liver. I prescribe a general mixed 
diet in all my cases. A further argument against 
the milk and egg diet is the close relation between 
the circulation of the liver and that of the lungs, as 
is well recognized by all students of physiology. 
The sluggish habit of the liver induces engorge¬ 
ment of that organ, and directly, thru the circu¬ 
lation, and reflexly, thru the Sympathetic Nerve 
System, brings about engorgement of the lungs. 

The mechanical irritation and pressure caused 
by the cough in a very great many of these cases 
result in a displacement of the stomach and a con¬ 
sequent torsion of the pylorus, interfering with 
the discharge of bile from the Gall-bladder . This 
fact must be kept constantly in mind, and vigor¬ 
ous massage of the abdominal cavity should be 
practiced daily in most cases, to meet this exigency. 
While on the subject, I would urge the consider¬ 
ation of both barley sugar and maple sugar as im¬ 
portant articles of diet in Tuberculosis. Not only 
are these sugars extremely nutritious, but they con¬ 
tain an excess of the tannates, which are mildly 
stimulating to the activity of the liver and to the 
fluidity of the bile. 

In Tubercular conditions we have, as in Malaria, 
a mild chill, usually in the afternoon, followed by 
a moderate rise in fever and this, in turn, by the 


Tuberculosis—The White Scourge 279 

cold sweat. After tlie sweat there is a period of 
relief, and in many cases, a sense of actual exhil¬ 
aration. 

The Hot Dry Pack with Tubercular patients 
must be carried out with such moderation as will 
be tolerated by the patient. As a very general 
rule, the blood is subnormal in its organic state 
and functional activity, and the duration of the 
Pack should be gauged by the actual vital powers 
of the patient. 

In an acute Miliary Tubercular condition, I have 
in my practice maintained the Pack as long as ten 
hours. But these were only in cases where the 
underlying conditions did not indicate that the use 
of the pack for that length of time would be inad¬ 
visable. As a rule, a three to five hour exposure 
to the Hot Dry Pack every second day will pro¬ 
duce the best results. The rapid disappearance 
of the Pulmonary symptoms after a five-hour ex¬ 
posure will be a source of astonishment to physic¬ 
ians, as well as to the patient. As a rule, all cough, 
congested conditions, and physical manifestation 
in the lungs will have become decidely modified, 
even in Tuberculosis of long standing. 

The benefit is apt to blind both the patient and 
the physician, to the underlying condition that in 
reality is the producing cause of Tuberculosis. It 
is fortunate that the treatment of Malaria is large- 
lyly identical with that of Tuberculosis, and in 
eliminating the Tubercular infection, we promote 


280 


Water in Disease and in Health 


the elimination of its Malarial complication. In 
those cases where Malaria exists, the improvement 
will be gratifying. The benefits of Gastric Lavage 
and massage in these conditions is very marked, 
as a rule. 

Complete daily cleansing of the stomach with a 
very mild salt solution, accompanied by vigorous 
massage and High Colon Irrigation upon retiring, 
not only promotes a healthy appetite in the morn¬ 
ing, but enables the stomach and intestines to put 
forth their best efforts to digest and assimilate the 
food. I have seen cases gain fifteen to twenty 
pounds in weight, with vastly increased vigor, 
under this method. 

In giving Lavage in Tuberculosis, my practice 
is to use about three quarts of water to effect a 
thorough cleansing, and to follow the Lavage with 
a glass of cold water to promote Osmosis, reliev¬ 
ing not only the stomach condition, but remotely 
the lung congestion. 

After the High Colon Irrigation in the evening, 
the patient is placed in bed with a Hot Water Bag 
to his feet and a moderate Cold Wet Pack over 
the chest. He should sleep on the porch or in a 
well-ventilated room. 

An ordinary mixed diet of meat, vegetables, 
cereals and breadstuffs is best for the patient; and 
remember that I am especially favorable to maple 
sugar, both in the cake and in syrup form. 


Tuberculosis—The White Scourge 281 

The course of treatment necessary to promote 
recovery will rarely exceed six weeks. However, 
the Hot Dry Cabinet Pack should be carried on for 
its prophylactic effect at semi-monthly intervals 
for at least a year, to insure protection against a 
return of the disease. 

The occurrence of hemorrhage does not argue 
against the use of the Hot Pack. In fact, the very 
lessening of the blood supply and blood pressure 
in the lungs afford splendid means of relieving 
hemorrhage in the lungs. 

In case Tubercular Abscess of the Rectum de¬ 
velops, proper drainage should be secured, and a 
Local Cold Wet Pack placed over the affected 
region to promote Osmosis and recovery. 

In using the Hot Dry Cabinet Pack, the patient 
must be allowed to breathe fresh, cool air. In the 
hot atmosphere of a room, the patient will rapidly 
become exhausted from the strain upon the heart 
and lungs, in his efforts to obtain a free supply of 
oxygen from the air. 


CHAPTER XXI 


Diseases of the Blood 

Practically every acute disease presents more 
or less manifestations within the blood-stream but 
the majority of blood conditions are secondary and 
chronic. When we eliminate Malaria, which is 
the most common of blood diseases, we practically 
eliminate all acute infective diseases that find their 
sole location in the blood-stream. 

While it is true that occasionally we find the 
spirochaeta of Syphilis and the germ Grippe, 
Typhoid or Typhus in the blood, these are merely 
incidental with the origin, remote from the blood¬ 
stream itself. When we attempt to analyze the 
cause and the result of blood conditions we reach 
the stage of the chicken and the egg—which came 
first? Physiologists agree that the origin of blood 
is generated in the spleen and in the marrow bones, 
or more definitely the blood plaques are generated 
in the spleen, and converted into the red cells in 
the marrow-bone, while the Leucocytes (white 
cells) are largely originated in the internal glands. 
Roughly speaking, the blood is divided into three 
different constituents. The white cell which is 
capable of motion within itself and by its move¬ 
ment capable of having motion into the inter- 

282 


Diseases of the Blood 


283 


cellular spaca of tissue. These contain usually 
more than one nuclei and when the blood contains 
a large supply of single nuclear cells it is general¬ 
ly found to be accompanied by manifestations in 
the glands of internal secretion, that is, the Thy¬ 
roid, the Thymus and the Pituitary gland. The 
red cell is a disc-like form, yellow in color and 
usually combined in rolls or series. They contain 
no nuclei and in themselves have no motion. These 
cells are largely propelled thru the various vessels 
in the fluid portion of the blood, which is usually 
called, the Plasma. 

It must be kept in mind, that fully sixty per 
cent, of the bulk of the blood in the blood vessels 
is gases, and because of the expansibility of gases 
they maintain a fairly constant blood pressure, 
(this latter fact is of great importance in condit¬ 
ions of high blood pressure, where due to the slug-, 
gish activity of the diseased liver we have an im¬ 
proper functioning of gaseous changes with re¬ 
sulting increased pressure within the blood ves¬ 
sels). 

As I said before, it is extremely difficult to ar¬ 
rive at the cause and effect of blood conditions. 
Malaria will excite inflammatory changes in the 
spleen and in the marrow-bones. So great is this 
latter fact recognized that for years thruout the 
Southern States, the pain that accompanies Mala¬ 
ria was frequently known as the bone-breaking 
fever. On the other hand, we also know that 


284 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Typhoid Fever which will excite inflammatory 
changes in the spleen will usually result in a de¬ 
pleted oxidation in the blood with resulting obes¬ 
ity. Over ninety per cent, of people having Ty¬ 
phoid Fever become fat after the attack. So that 
when we attempt to correct blood conditions our 
treatment must be such that will not only meet 
the probable cause but also the result. 

The wide-cast findings of most of our pathol¬ 
ogists of the manifestations of Syphilis in the 
blood, should be looked upon with great skeptic¬ 
ism. The so-called Wasserman Test has proved 
very unrealiable and very misleading. The same 
patient on the same day in different laboratories 
will have a positive in one and a negative reaction 
in the other. It is my conviction, based upon log¬ 
ical reasoning, that Syphilis is a glandular disease 
and not a blood-disease . Long before any mani¬ 
festations are evident in the blood, the glandular 
system is attacked and even in advanced conditions 
of this disease the relative proportion of red and 
white cells and the oxygen content of the red cells 
is usually found to be normal. While Spirochaete 
(germs of syphilis) may be found in the Plasma 
of the blood it is not as a rule attached to any of 
the cellular elements and under proper stimula¬ 
tion, such as is obtained by the use of Iodides the 
white cell is capable of destroying this germ. 


Diseases of the Blood 


285 


ANEMIA 

This term is very broad and may describe prac¬ 
tically any derangement in the condition of the 
red cell; either in its oxygen-carrying properties 
or in its relative numerical relation to the white 
cell. Generally speaking, it refers to the deficit 
in the amount of oxygen in the cell and inability to 
oxidize Glycogen is usually evident and Obesity 
is the common result. Keeping in mind, the fact 
that Malaria is usually the producing cause of 
Anemia it is always advisable to supplement the 
treatment of Malarious conditions by treatment 
with vegetable iron. The diet in these cases should 
be a mixed diet in which the proteids should be 
abundant because of the inability of Anemic blood 
to oxidize the Glycogen coming from the Carbo¬ 
hydrates. 

These are the cases that respond very readily 
to the liberal use of skimmed milk. . Fresh butter¬ 
milk in reality is nothing other than skimmed milk 
and may be used instead. 

The High Colon Irrigation because of its drain¬ 
ing the system of surplus of toxins and relieving 
the Carbonic Acids from the blood, should be fol¬ 
lowed persistently for months upon retiring. 

Decoction of Peruvian bark as described in the 
treatment of Malaria affords vegetable iron free 
from the resins, and consequently directly increas¬ 
es the oxygen content of the blood. Needless to 


286 


Water in Disease and in Health 


add, fresh air, or air containing abundant quan¬ 
tities of oxygen is largely necessary. Anemic per¬ 
sons should never go to the mountains or higher 
altitudes but should live at or near the ocean where 
the atmosphere is more condensed and contains 
greater quantities of oxygen. 

The amount of skimmed milk advisable in these 
cases should be gauged by the toleration. I have 
seen patients thrive on drinking as much as three 
or four quarts of skimmed milk a day. In these 
cases, however, due to the sluggish condition of the 
liver, which is always an accompanying factor, 
eggs should he avoided because of the fact that 
they are fruitful fields for decomposing bacteria 
in the Intestinal Tract. 

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE 

Keeping in mind the fact that the bulk of the 
blood is gaseous, the avenues of elimination in 
these conditions should be encouraged. The High 
Colon Irrigation not only promotes the evacuation 
of the bowel; but also affords marked activity of 
the kidneys. Where the hlood pressure goes above 
135 or 140, in middle life, the patient should in¬ 
dulge in the High Colon Irrigation at least twice 
weekly. 

Because of its affinity for salines and alkalines, 
free drinking of Distilled Water, upon rising, 
should be encouraged. In these cases the patient 
should drink two glasses of Distilled Water im- 


Diseases of the Blood 


287 


mediately on waking and not indulge in food for 
at least one-half hour after drinking the water, in 
order to obtain the best diuretic action. 

The occasional use of the Hot Cabinet Pack of 
from two to three hours duration affords splendid 
assistance to the kidneys and the bowels in elim¬ 
inating the waste. 

The diet in these cases contrary to what is gen¬ 
erally understood, need not be entirely free from 
proteids. However, the use of condiments such as 
peppers, vinegars, coffee, etc., should be avoided. 
The midday meal of raw or cooked fruit by in¬ 
creasing the activity of the liver is strongly ad¬ 
visable in people suffering from this condition. 


CHAPTER XXII 


Bright's Disease of the Kidneys 

From the Hydrotherapeutic standpoint, there 
is no such disease as primary Nephritis. For the 
congestive and inflammatory changes in the kid¬ 
neys are dependent upon outside influence. The 
very function of the Kidneys is to react to extern¬ 
al conditions, and to meet the demands upon them 
from these influences. 

An increased tissue change prompts an increas¬ 
ed excretion of Urea (animal matter in the urine). 
Even fright and shock have an effect upon the kid¬ 
neys. The excess of secretion accompanying or 
following a fright is generally recognized, even 
among the Laity. 

A retardation in the draining of the blood by 
the kidney will increase arterial tension, while 
rapid draining of the blood thru the kidney will 
diminish this tension. Therefore, the excess of 
action or diminished action of the kidney is re¬ 
mote in its effects, not only in a quantitative sense, 
but also in a qualitative sense in that the throwing 
off of the products of tissue change is retarded, or 
is in excess. 

Acute Nephritis, in the majority of cases, is 
chemical in its origin. Carbolic acid, members of 

288 


Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys 289 

the Benzol group—such as Soda-Benzoate, As¬ 
pirin, Antipyrine, and Bichloride of Mercury, are 
decidedly irritating to the tubules of the kidneys, 
and if taken in excess not infrequently excite acute 
inflammation of the kidneys. 

It must be borne in mind that the main organ 
for the excretion of waste material from the system 
is the bowel. The kidney, the skin, and the lungs 
are closely allied in their efforts to assist the 
bowel, in this function of excretion. 

To add to the irritation in the kidney by the use 
of a vegetable or metallic purge is bad medical 
judgment. 

On the other hand, the High Colon Irrigation 
in the Knee-Chest position affords the best means 
of excreting the waste material, as well as the toxic 
gases. The absorption of water in the Ascending 
Colon will help dilute the urine and render it 
bland. Also the presence of excess water in the 
excretion of the kidneys, will promote an Osmotic 
Action in the tubules of the kidneys, and relieve 
their congestion. 

The close relationship between the functional 
activity of the liver and the production of toxins 
or poisons in the blood is generally recognized. 
Therefore, it is absolutely essential that the Gall- 
Bladder be called upon to excrete these poisons, 
in order to relieve the irritation in the kidneys. 
Evacuation of the Gall-Bladder by proper man- 


290 


Water in Disease and in Health 


ipulation is indicated in all cases where the specific 
gravity of the urine will exceed 1.028. 

The impression that Bright’s Disease is general¬ 
ly or ultimately fatal is not without foundation. 
Yet, when we consider the kidneys, in an anatom¬ 
ical as well as a functional aspect, it would appear 
that a rational consideration of these diseased 
organs would indicate that they should, under 
proper care, recover their normal health. 

In the first place, we can absolutely regulate the 
quantity and quality of the urine; secondly, we 
can regulate the inflammatory progress of the kid¬ 
neys; thirdly, Nature, being generous in her pro¬ 
tection of the kidney conditions, has given us twice 
the functional power necessary to mantain life; 
as is proven by the longevity of those unfortun¬ 
ates who have had one of their kidneys removed, 
and who thrive on the function of the remaining 
kidney. 

Broadly speaking, there is no remedy that meets 
with such wonderful success in Bright’s Disease 
of the kidneys as the High Colon Irrigation of Ster¬ 
ile Water and Sugar. The presence of sugar in 
water has the effect of neutralizing the irritation 
that plain water would afford; while again, sugar 
in itself is readily absorbed, and is a splendid nu¬ 
trient material when injected into the Ascending 
Colon. 

The routine custom of throwing into the Trans¬ 
verse Colon, every night, three pints of warm 


Bright's Disease of the Kidneys 291 

water, into which a teaspoonful of sugar has been 
dissolved, meets most of the indications in moder¬ 
ate forms of Bright’s Disease. When Dropsical 
manifestations have been marked, and where Val¬ 
vular Lesions of the Heart are present, the Dry 
Hot Pack must supplement the Colon Irrigation. 

Apart from forcing a weakened heart to per¬ 
form extra work, Digitalis is excreted by the Kid¬ 
neys. Not only is Digitalis irritating to the kid¬ 
ney tissue, but it also has a peculiar action upon the 
involuntary muscular fibers found in the kidneys. 

The causes of Chronic Bright’s Disease are us¬ 
ually remote. The after effects of Scarlet Fever 
are a very common cause. Atrophic Catarrh of 
the colon, and its failure to throw off the poison¬ 
ous excrement that has persistently irritated the 
kidney cells, by compelling them to excrete this 
excess of toxins, is perhaps the most common of 
all causes for Nephritis. 

Where increased heart action is desired, and 
where this is not secured thru High Colon Irri¬ 
gation or by the Hot Dry Pack, stimulation should 
be produced by the use of Ice over the Apex of 
the Heart . 

The High Colon Irrigation, bringing about the 
Osmotic Action of Water in the Ascending and 
Transverse Colons, should be persisted in with 
regularity; long after the urine shows that all man¬ 
ifestation of degenerative or inflammatory changes 
in the kidneys have cleared up. 


292 


Water in Disease and in Health 


In giving the Dry Hot Pack in these cases, care 
should be taken to afford the patient contact with 
the open air. In this way, patients with even fair¬ 
ly advanced valvular conditions of the heart, will 
tolerate the Pack for four or five hours, but with 
little discomfort. 

A fairly strict attention to these measures has 
met with splendid success in the Guenther San¬ 
itarium. 

Where the condition is advanced, the Skimmed 
Milk Diet will stimulate the increased activity of 
the sweat glands. It will help also to render the 
urine bland. Two parts of milk to one part of 
water will meet most indications. 

Where the patient is Dropsical, the Colon Irri¬ 
gation should be practiced twice in twenty-four 
hours. At the same time, a five hour exposure to 
the Hot Dry Pack every second day should be giv¬ 
en, until the Dropsical conditions have disappear¬ 
ed. 

With the first appearance of casts (hyaline or 
granular) Narcotics, Alkaloids, and coal-tar prod¬ 
ucts should be interdicted. Smoking should he ab¬ 
solutely dispensed with, as well as the drinking of 
coffee . The diet should be light but nourishing. 
Because of the rapidity with which Glycogen of 
the proteid is oxidized in the blood the use of this 
diet should be largely modified; as the excess of ur¬ 
ates will add to the irritation of the Kidney se¬ 
cretions. Citrus foods are to be encouraged. Or- 


Bright’s Disease of the Kidneys 293 

ange juice, and compotes consisting of apples, 
rhubarb, lemons and pears should be encouraged. 
Well cooked potatoes, grassy foods, such as spin¬ 
ach and Scotch kale, should be permitted. Aspar¬ 
agus contains a sulphur compound that is excreted 
by the kidneys, and is in itself irritating to these 
organs must not be used. Alcohol, because of the 
rapidity with which it is burned up in the blood, 
must not be tolerated. 


CHAPTER XXIII 


Diabetes—The Insidious Menace 

Diabetes is a manifestation of deranged meta¬ 
bolic (or tissue) activity. Anything, that upsets 
the equilibrium between waste and repair may 
produce what we call Diabetes. 

One of the most common causes of this disease 
is Obesity, from alcoholic formation in the stom¬ 
ach, thru yeast fermentation. Other causes are 
excessive acidity and stoppage of the passage of 
the stomach contents, induced by any of the fol¬ 
lowing causes such as onion and garlic juice, de¬ 
ranged activity of the liver and pancreas, as well 
as interference with the flow of their secretions 
by an impacted Gall-Stone; worry, sorrow, fright 
and overwork. 

The prevalence of Diabetes among orthodox 
Jews has excited much study of this subject. It 
is variously estimated that fully eighty per cent, 
of orthodox Jews between the ages of 50 and 60, 
following the restricted Kosher diet, suffer more 
or less from Diabetes. The question of national¬ 
ity plays but a small part in the matter, as this 
proportion is found to be approximately the same 
among the Hungarian, Polish and Russian Jews. 
In the same family, where some members observe 

294 


Diabetes—The Insidious Menace 295 


the strict Kosher law and others do not, Diabetes 
is not present with the non-observers. 

Excluding all other possible causes, my convic¬ 
tion is that the universal use of garlic and onion 
juice in the Kosher diet is the exciting cause of 
Diabetes. In a series of experiments in dieting 
these cases, I have been able to note a lessening in 
the Glycosuria (sugar in the urine) when garlic 
and onion juice were avoided. 

The draining out of the blood and the soaking 
of the meat in salt and water to extract the meat 
juices, as practiced by the orthodox Jews, renders 
the meat almost tastless. It is to overcome this 
lack of flavor that garlic and onions are employed. 
At the same time, the vital mineral salts that might 
be left in the meat are removed. This, of course, 
favors acidosis, which in turn, predisposes to Dia¬ 
betes. 

My conviction is that the formation of alcohol 
and its remote developments are most frequently 
responsible for Diabetic manifestations. Diabetes 
is so often associated with Obesity that the merg¬ 
ing of the latter into the former is gradual and in¬ 
sidious ; to the extent that they seem but different 
manifestations of the same producing cause. Clin¬ 
ically speaking, the self-same measures used for 
correcting Obesity meet with success in correcting 
Diabetes, as I have repeatedly shown, and have 
numerous records to prove. 

The yeast cell is frequently the constant re-in- 


296 


Water in Disease and in Health 


fecting cause of Obesity and Diabetes. Each meal 
brings its new swarm of yeast cells, which gener¬ 
ate alcohol in the stomach, beyond the capacity of 
the red and white cells to meet its de-oxidizing ef¬ 
fects. 

In so far as Hydrotherapy can improve the 
functional vigor and the organic structure of the 
red and white cells of the blood, thus far it is ef¬ 
ficient. Thus, thru the High Colon Irrigation, by 
the efficient removal of the waste products, we 
stimulate more activity in both the red and white 
cells. 

In Diabetic conditions, the High Colon Irriga¬ 
tion, taken each night upon retiring, is one of the 
most important operations. 

Yeast is inactive in a strong alkaline medium. 
Therefore, the bile should be encouraged to flow 
freely by evacuating the Gall-Bladder and by ab¬ 
dominal massage. Yeasts are very active in an 
acid medium. Onion juice, garlic, coffee and spices 
increase the activity of the stomach, as well as the 
constriction of the pylorus. In this manner they 
promote the increased action of alcohol by delay¬ 
ing the expulsion of the fermenting mass into the 
intestine, where the fermentation would be nor¬ 
mally checked by the bile. 

In all Diabetic conditions, as in Obesity, the 
functional activity of the red and white cell in the 
blood, is defective. The Carbohydrates in the liv¬ 
er fail to pass to the Glycogenic state (fat) and 


Diabetes—The Insidious Menace 297 

remain as foreign elements to be excreted by the 
kidneys. Thus, the grave menace of Obesity not 
only depletes the vital organs, but by depleting 
the Glycogenic function of the liver, retards the 
conversion of glucose into Glycogen, or fat. 

Water has no destructive action on yeast. While 
it is true that mechanically we can diminish the 
amount of yeast in the stomach by copious lavage, 
and can check the formation of alcohol somewhat, 
by the elimination of Carbohydrates in the diet, 
yet this is as far as the Hydropath can go in cor¬ 
recting Diabetes. 

I have given this disease a great deal of study, 
and confess that I am compelled to resort to med¬ 
ication in order to destroy the yeast cells. I have 
combined physiological Iodine to meet these in¬ 
dications in a highly efficient form, which is being 
presented under the name of “Neutroids.” The 
results achieved by these tablets in Diabetes have 
been extraordinarily satisfactory. 

No rule can be established that will meet all 
cases in this disease. Under acute stimulation of 
the liver and Gall-Bladder, and thru Irrigation of 
the Colon, with the free use of the Physiological 
Iodine before meals, the restrictions in diet will 
be reduced to a minimum. 

Upon the theory of the yeast origin of the 
trouble, Condiments and Coffee must be vigorously 
forbidden. If the patients thrive on a general mix¬ 
ed diet—and they usually do—there should not of 


298 Water in Disease and in Health 

necessity be any restriction in the use of Carbohy¬ 
drates. 

Massage of the liver is a rather difficult pro¬ 
cedure, requiring not only delicate skill but con¬ 
siderable strength properly to manipulate the in¬ 
ferior surface of this hepatic gland. 

My method is to place both hands flat, one over 
the other, on the right ribs, and with the thumbs 
over-lapped, so as to procure the greatest pur¬ 
chase, press the thumbs into the abdomen, be¬ 
tween the Transverse Colon and the rib border, 
and then slowly rotate the thumbs against the low¬ 
er surface of the liver. I demonstrated this meth¬ 
od in Boas’s clinic in Berlin in 1893, and though 
endorsed by Dr. Boas, the amount of skill and 
strength required has prevented its being gener¬ 
ally adopted. 

In Cirrhosis (hardening) of the Liver, this 
massage as described, is capable of producing ex¬ 
ceptionally fine results. In sub-development of 
the liver, accompanying Chlorosis (organic anem¬ 
ia) and Amenorrhea (stoppage of the normal men¬ 
strual flow) remarkable results are to be expected 
from it. 

With Diabetic Gangrene, every means should 
be exhausted before operative measures are re¬ 
sorted to. The increased supply of glucose has ap¬ 
parently corrected a number of cases I have seen. 
Life has been prolonged materially by an excess 


Diabetes—The Insidious Menace 299 

of glucose, accompanied by the other measures I 
have outlined. 

With the correction of colon decomposition and 
auto-intoxication by the High Colon Irrigation, 
the nervous and mental distress will be greatly re¬ 
lieved. The refreshing sleep that follows the en¬ 
ema is almost a direct antidote to nervousness. 

The Skimmed Milk Diet, if accompanied by the 
High Colon Irrigation and supplemented by raw 
vegetables and fruits, deserves endorsement as an 
adjunct to the treatment of Diabetes. In this diet, 
the yeast bacteria will be inert, as they are incap¬ 
able of attacking the raw starches. 


CHAPTER XXIV 


Diseases Peculiar to Men 
Prostatitis 

In my opinion this disease, more than any other, 
conduces to the advance of age and increasing ir¬ 
ritability of temper . The very restraint placed 
upon sexual indulgence is sometimes sufficient 
cause for the congestion and distention of the Pros¬ 
tatic Gland. 

The irritation in and about the base of the blad¬ 
der, originated by a strongly acid urine or accum¬ 
ulated sediment, aggravates the condition. It is 
fortunate that the proximity of the Prostatic 
Glands to the rectum affords splendid opportunity 
to obtain Osmotic Action. During the acute stage, 
rest in bed is highly desirable, though the patient 
himself may object to resting. 

The High Colon Irrigation, practiced twice a 
day, gives splendid results in these cases. Also, 
by thoroughly cleansing the bowel, the waste mat¬ 
erial of tissue changes is freely eliminated, lessen¬ 
ing thereby the excretion of the kidneys, while the 
absorption of the excess water from the Ascending 
Colon dilutes the urine rendering it bland. 

After this Colon Irrigation and subsequent evac¬ 
uation, there will be a slow accumulation of water 


300 


Diseases Peculiar to Men 


301 


above the Internal Sphincter of the rectum, to 
which the posterior surface of the Prostate Gland 
is exposed. This is especially true if the patient 
will remain in bed during the first 72 hours. 

Washing out the bladder with a sterile solution at 
the beginning of the treatment will add greatly to 
the comfort of the patient. Massage of a loose, 
flabby prostate thru the rectum will also afford 
comfort. However, where the prostate is hard and 
tense, massage should be delayed until the Osmotic 
Action of the Water in the Rectum relieves the 
condition of tenseness. The treatment by High 
Colon Irrigation in chronic conditions should be 
practiced daily for a period of at least six weeks. 

In washing the bladder, the fountain syringe 
should be elevated about five feet. This will pro¬ 
vide sufficient pressure to force the water past the 
sphincters. Expulsion of the urine from within 
and the pressure of the water from without will 
force the water through these sphincter muscles 
into the bladder. The nozzle of the syringe should 
be introduced about an inch into the meatus, or 
external opening. When the bladder becomes full, 
the contents should be voided and the process re¬ 
peated three or four times, to insure complete 
cleansing of the bladder. 

VARICOCELE 

Varicocele consists merely of a Local Varicose 
Vein or veins in the Scrotal Sac. The prolonged 


302 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Sitz Bath of say, half an hour to an hour before re¬ 
tiring, followed by the Local Cold Wet Pack which 
is to remain on all night, will within three weeks, 
usually effect a complete recovery. Subsequently, 
the parts should be supported by a suspensory ban¬ 
dage. 

ALOPECIA (BALDNESS) 

Baldness is so largely confined to the male that 
it may be considered almost characteristic. It 
should be considered as a form of Eczema. Local 
applications are therefore useless. 

The hair glands excrete an odorous, semi-liquid 
oil. When they are below normal in their activity, 
the hair and the scalp become subject to a sort of 
dry decay. Certain factors tend to break down the 
normal resistance to this process of decay. The 
tight hat lessens the circulation of the scalp. The 
alcohol of hair lotions and tonics, dissolves and 
removes much of the residue of oily material, 
leaving the scalp and hair dry. The strong alkaline 
in the various shampoos also removes the natural 
oils in the scalp and hair. 

The process of offsetting the progress of Alope¬ 
cia is a tedious one. It means persistent effort. 
The liver and the Colon must be called upon to 
carry off the infection. Massage of the Gall- 
Bladder and High Colon Irrigation must be carried 
out daily. Eggs should be eliminated from the 
diet, as they are a fruitful field for bacteriological 


Diseases Peculiar to Men 


303 


activity. The weekly Hot Air Cabinet Pack for 
a five-honr exposure, keeping the head well covered 
with cloths, to increase the secretion of the hair 
glands, is all the local treatment necessary. 

Soaps used to clean the hair should be as free 
from alkalines as possible. Massage of the scalp, 
with stretching of its various muscles, is bene¬ 
ficial. This stretching is done by firmly grasping 
the brow and the back of the head with the hands, 
and pushing the scalp and hands towards each 
other. 


CHAPTER XXV 


Ailments Peculiar to Women 

Derangements of the sexual functions are class¬ 
ified as Amenorrhea (stoppage of menses), Dys¬ 
menorrhea (painful menstruation), Menorrhagia 
(excessive menses) and Metrorrhagia (diminish¬ 
ed menses). 

Stoppage of Menses 

Amenorrhea, except in Pregnancy, is due to de¬ 
pleted blood supply, accompanied by mental ap¬ 
prehension. These conditions are noticeably 
common among immigrant girls, where change of 
diet and environment, together with discomfort and 
apprehension, check the normal function of men¬ 
struation. 

Water in the blood prompts secretion by every 
organ in the system, so that its absorption is strong¬ 
ly tonic. The High Colon Irrigation, however, not 
only prompts vigorous action upon the female 
organs, but it also eliminates the poisons arising 
from the inability of the digestive system to ac¬ 
commodate itself to the changed diet and environ¬ 
ment. 

In these cases, the High Colon Irrigation, prac¬ 
ticed daily before retiring, and accompanied by 

304 


Ailments Peculiar to Women 305 

copious drinking of water on an empty stomach 
in the morning, usually stimulates the prompt 
return of the normal menstrual flow. 

Painful Menstruation 

This trouble in a very high percentage of cases 
is produced by a malformation or malposition of 
the womb. This causes an obstruction to the dis¬ 
charge, and reflexly, an excessive contraction in 
an effort to expel, causing congestive inflammation 
of the organ and its membranes. 

The High Colon Irrigation, by keeping the Colon 
empty, primarily affords space for the womb to 
develop within the Pelvis. 

The most frequent cause of displacement of the 
womb is constipation. The womb is balanced in 
suspension by the broad ligament with the Cervix 
portion of the womb pressing against the walls of 
the rectum. The weight and pressure of a large 
stool is very apt to bend this Cervix downward. 
Then we have the condition known as “Antiflex¬ 
ion”—the most common condition found in Dys¬ 
menorrhea. When the pressure of the stool is 
more severe, and of longer duration, we have a 
complete turning of the womb, which condition is 
called ‘ 4 Retroversion,’’ the second most frequent 
condition found in this disorder. Thus it can be 
seen that the High Colon Irrigation benefits me¬ 
chanically, as well as in other ways. 


306 


Water in Disease arid in Health 


The simple act of kneeling and dropping the 
shoulders to the floor, remaining for some minutes 
in this position, is of marked benefit in favoring a 
return of the womb to its normal position. Stand¬ 
ing at the edge of a soft mattress and falling for¬ 
ward with force on the face and stomach, will 
frequently throw a displaced womb forward into 
its normal position. This should be practiced 
persistently but with care, not to cause other in¬ 
juries to the person. Also, lying on the stomach 
while sleeping should be practiced. 

In these cases, it is necessary to keep up the 
High Colon Irrigation every day for several 
months. 

Excessive and Diminished Menses 

These two afflictions are but modifications of 
Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), and should 
receive the same treatment, as outlined above. 

Intense nervousness or hysteria arising from 
these or other Uterine troubles may usually be 
soothed by bathing the breasts, abdomen, hands or 
feet in Cold Water, which causes a contraction of 
the involuntary muscles of the Abdominal Viscera. 

Pelvic Cellulitis 

Pelvic Cellulitis may be either benign or septic. 
Gonorrhea is a frequent cause, although bruises 
and exposure may bring it on. 


Ailments Peculiar to Women 


307 


In this trouble, Osmosis should be practiced with 
persistence and thoroughness. Distilled Water, 
rather than hydrant water, should be used, because 
of the specific gravity and disinfectant action of 
Distilled Water. Pieces of cotton, tied with a 
string so that they may be withdrawn, should be 
saturated with Distilled Water, and introduced as 
far as possible into the Vaginal Canal. These 
should be renewed frequently, to insure a sufficient 
quantity of water for the proper Osmosis. This 
Osmotic Action should be maintained for thirty- 
six hours, in order to effect a reduction of in¬ 
flammation. 

Hydrobromidrosis (Stinking Sweat) 

This humiliating affliction predominates in 
women, in the relative proportion of ten women 
to one man. 

The close relation between the Colon and skin 
as organs of elimination, must ever be borne in 
mind in correcting this disease. Consequently, the 
High Colon Irrigation should be practiced daily 
in these cases, to afford thorough elimination of 
the waste products. The Gall-Bladder should be 
stimulated by massage to promote disinfection in 
the Colon, by the presence of Bile. The Hot Dry 
Pack should be used twice a week during the early 
stages of the treatment, with the daily cold plunge 
or cold shower to invigorate the skin and its glands. 


308 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Caked Breasts, Abcess of Breasts, 
Fissures and Painful Nipples 

The treatment of these conditions is both pre¬ 
ventive and curative. 

Following the birth of the child, a Cold Wet 
Pack should be applied over the chest, covering 
both breasts, and maintained at two-hour intervals 
until the milk is fully established in these glands. 
By keeping down the congestion, all inflammatory 
changes will be prevented, and the Milk-Ducts will 
not be closed. 

When troubled with Caked Breasts, the Osmotic 
Action of Water should be pushed thoroughly. 
Every half hour the Wet Pack should be renewed. 
Sometimes absorbent cotton, soaked in water, will 
be found efficient as an adjunct to the Wet Pack. 
Pinned inside the wet towel, it will furnish con¬ 
siderable additional water. 

When the Abcess has actually developed, the 
Osmosis must be continued for at least four days 
to insure complete checking of the processes of 
suppuration. 

Fissures of the nipples will be promptly cured 
by the Osmosis of the Wet Pack. This trouble 
should not be treated with any applications of 
salve or ointment if you are going to use water, 
as the salve hinders the Osmotic Action. 


CHAPTER XXVI 


Venereal Diseases 

The broadcast attempt on the part of certain 
of the Medical Profession to attribute all the evils 
of mankind to Syphilis, either acquired or in¬ 
herited, demands a modest discussion of this dis¬ 
ease ; as in all probabilities some of my readers will 
have been humiliated by the attempts of some 
member of the Medical Profession to attribute 
their ailments to this disease. 

Primary Syphilis is always a local infection, in 
which the toxins are absorbed by the glandular 
system and Nature in her efforts to eliminate this 
disease calls upon the shin . Observation of the 
so-called Wasserman Test for over thirty years, 
(and I recall its earliest introduction while I was 
studying in Berlin) has convinced me that it is 
decidedly unreliable, and far from being diag¬ 
nostic. & \ 

Keeping in mind the fact that the first avenue of 
elimination by Nature is the skin, as is manifested 
by the various eruptions of the skin, this indication 
calls for a rapid draining by the skin of the in¬ 
fection. 

Like Tuberculosis, the germ is usually of slow 
progressive type, and at the earliest appearance 

309 


310 


Water in Disease and in Health 


of this disease, the Hot Cabinet Pack should be 
followed with efficiency and regularity. It was 
our custom to submit our patients to an eight hours 
exposure to the Hot Cabinet Pack, and frequently 
the first pronounced sweat would relieve all the 
acute manifestations of this disease. 

However, keeping in mind the fact that it is a 
slow progressive poison, the sweat must be re¬ 
peated. Practically all evidences of Syphilis are 
negative after the eighth sweat. These may be 
given every second day or twice a week. 

The benefit of the so-called mud-baths in these 
conditions, is solely from the sweat that they pro¬ 
duce, and is much inferior to the Hot Cabinet 
Pack. In all stages of the disease, this treatment 
has been decidedly beneficial. 

Needless to add, the usual steps to precede the 
sweat should be the High Colon Irrigation, twenty 
minutes exposure to the General Warm Tub Bath 
and the fresh drinking of Cool Water after the 
perspiration has started. 

The benefits of this treatment will be astonish¬ 
ing, not only to the individual, but to the physicians 
who may follow it. As regards the permanency of 
this means of eliminating the disease, we have 
never seen a case that had followed the course of 
treatment, that is the eight exposures to the Hot 
Cabinet Pack, ever manifest any symptoms of 
return. 


Venereal Diseases 


311 


Gonorrhea 

Gonorrhea should be treated with the same in¬ 
tent as we treat Diptheria, that is, the Local Ice 
Pack should be maintained for thirty-six to seven¬ 
ty-two hours during the acute stage, and water 
should be given freely to drink, with rest in bed 
to promote the generation of the Autogen. Fre¬ 
quently this will require longer application but 
after the seventy-two hours exposure to the Local 
Ice Pack the symptoms in all my cases have sub¬ 
sided, and at the end of ten days or two weeks I 
was unable to find the germ of the disease. 


CHAPTER XXVII 


Other Diseases 

The Strange Disease Epilepsy 

Wliat is Epilepsy, whence it comes and why, 
are questions that the physician has been unable 
to answer. Pathologists, as a rule, agree that the 
actual convulsion is produced or accompanied by 
a congestion of the upper part of the spinal cord 
and the base of the brain. 

The causes of this congested condition are fre¬ 
quently found in something more or less remote. 
Blows on the head, worms during childhood, Auto- 
Toxemia, unrecognized Malarious infection, dis¬ 
placement of the abdominal organs—especially 
when accompanied by Bulimia (excess of appetite) 
and Constipation, are prominent causes. These 
irritating factors should be sought for and re¬ 
moved. 

The most important thing from a Hydrothera- 
peutic standpoint, is to maintain normal circu¬ 
lation in the brain and spinal cord. This can be 
brought about most effectively by promoting 
Osmosis in the stomach and intestines thru the 
free drinking of water and Colon Irrigation. I 
have seen a considerable number of Epileptics in 

312 


Other Diseases 


313 


whom the simple procedure of drinking two 
glasses of water on an empty stomach one-half 
hour before breakfast, together with Irrigation 
as suggested, resulted apparently in complete 
cure. 

The close relationship between the Gall-Bladder, 
the liver, the brain, and spinal cord, is rarely em¬ 
phasized. In sluggish conditions of the liver, the 
vertigo or dizziness which often appears simulates 
pretty closely the symptoms of Epilepsy. I have 
seen many cases in which the irritation was due 
to displaced stomach and hardened Gall-Bladder. 
The correction of these two factors, accompanied 
by water-drinking half an hour before breakfast, 
results in the disappearance of both types of 
Epilepsy—i. e., “Petit Mai,” or the less severe, 
and “Grand Mai” or more severe variety. 

In cases where the passage of water is retarded, 
as is manifested by Constipation, High Colon 
Irrigation should be practiced daily until the morn¬ 
ing draught secures copious evacuation. 

The fine line of diagnosis between the “Jack¬ 
sonian” Epilepsy or Epileptoid Convulsions, and 
true Epilepsy, is of no importance to the Hydro¬ 
path, for as their physiological indications are 
identical with those of True Epilepsy, their treat¬ 
ment should be the same. 

I know of no reason for moderation of the diet. 
However, the fact that diluted milk stimulates a 
modified form of Osmosis, and is at the same time 


314 Water in Disease and in Health 

substantially nourishing, should indicate its use. 
When the liver is sluggish, vegetables, such as beet 
tops, spinach and celery, together with liberal 
quantities of raw fruit, are of benefit because of 
their stimulating effect upon the secretion of the 
Bile. 

The results obtained from the Osmotic Treat¬ 
ment of Epilepsy are astonishingly satisfactory, 
even in senile cases. Not infrequently, there will 
be no return of the convulsion after the first 
Irrigation. 

St. Vitus’s Dance 

Where the trouble is not due to actual organic 
destruction of the Cerebro-Spinal Tissue, the prob¬ 
ability of recovery under Hydrotherapeutic Treat¬ 
ment is extremely good. Recovery, however, will 
be gradual. 

In addition to the Osmotic Treatment, as de¬ 
scribed under the heading of Epilepsy, the pro¬ 
longed hot bath before retiring is decidedly bene¬ 
ficial, because of its sedative and sudorific action. 
The patient should be encouraged to remain in 
the bath three-quarters of an hour at a temperature 
of 110 to 120° Fhr, and then to lie between blankets. 

Poisoning 

In Corrosive Poisoning, such as Lead and Bi¬ 
chloride of Mercury Poisoning, and also in Arsen¬ 
ical Poisonings, the skin offers the most favorable 


Other Diseases 


315 


avenue of escape, for frequently the kidneys are 
so seriously affected by the elimination of these 
poisons that death occurs in a large percentage of 
cases. 


Lead Poisoning 

As a very general rule, this disease is gradual 
in its onset. It is found largely among painters, 
lead molders, plumbers and compositors. So-called 
Painters’ Colic is nothing other than the distress 
produced by the paralyzed condition of the intes¬ 
tinal canal. The “wrist-drop” and the “ankle- 
flop” are also manifestations of Paralysis. The 
blue line of the gums indicates that the deposits 
of lead are general in the mucuous membrane. 

Stimulating active elimination thru the kidneys, 
almost invariably results in producing a degener¬ 
ating inflammation of these organs, not infre¬ 
quently resulting in Chronic Bright’s Disease. In 
these conditions the Hot Dry Cabinet Pack should 
be persisted in systematically every second day, 
until all manifestations of the poisons have sub¬ 
sided. The Hot Cabinet Pack should last from 
four to five hours. The diet should be low in pro¬ 
tein (nitrogen compounds), and should consist 
mainly of cooked fruits and vegetables. 

Bichloride of Mercury Poisoning 

Because of the widespread use of Bichloride of 
Mercury as a disinfectant, not infrequently, these 


316 Water in Disease and in Health 

tablets are taken either with suicidal intent, or by 
accident. Gradual fatal degeneration of the kid¬ 
neys has been almost the invariable result. A 
recent case, however, will illustrate the Hydrothe- 
rapeutic Treatment of these conditions, and show 
the marked advantages of Water, properly applied, 
over all other forms of treatment. 

Mrs. S-, in a darkened bathroom, mistook a 

solution of Bichloride of Mercury (iy 2 grain 
tablet dissolved) for drinking water, and swallow¬ 
ed practically all of it before she detected its 
characteristic taste. Her physician hurried her 
in a taxi to the Clinic, where I thoroughly Lavaged 
out the stomach contents. After this, following a 
High Colon Irrigation, she was placed in a Hot 
Dry Cabinet Pack for a six hours’ sweat. Examin¬ 
ation of her urine the next morning revealed traces 
of Albumen and Mercury. She was then subjected 
to an eight hour exposure in a Hot Cabinet Pack. 
The following morning the urine was normal. 
There were no evidences of Mercury. However, 
I insisted upon an additional eight hours’ exposure 
to the Hot Cabinet Pack. It is now several months 
since this incident, and no manifestations are pres¬ 
ent at this date. 

As long as there is any trace of Albumen in the 
urine, the Hot Cabinet Pack should be used daily. 

Arsenical Poisoning 

This condition is found largely among paper- 


Other Diseases 


317 


hangers, where the arsenical dyes used to color the 
papers are the source of the infection. The onset of 
this poison is so very insidious that in a very large 
percentage of cases it is not recognized. The main 
characteristics are the excessive prostration, 
Anemia and mild disturbances in the kidneys. 
These cases are frequently mistaken for Anemia, 
Chlorosis or Malarial Cachexia. Recovery is 
always slow, the symptoms persisting for many 
months. When a paper-hanger, a dyer, or a user 
of arsenical dyes feels himself continually tired, 
and when he looks pale, he should change his occu¬ 
pation. The great danger in these cases is the 
fatty degeneration of the kidneys with consequent 
Bright’s Disease. The tri-weekly Hot Cabinet 
Pack of four or five hours’ duration should be 
persisted in for at least five or six weeks in order 
to protect against degeneration of the kidneys. 

Tetanus (Lockjaw) 

In many sections of the world this disease is 
practically unknown. In and about certain sec¬ 
tions of Long Island it is not uncommon. In fact, 
the Plains of Hempstead stand out prominent as 
being the seat of most frequent manifestations of 
this disease. 

Apart from the disinfection of the local seat of 
infection, the indications are for the Hot Cabinet 
Pack, following the High Colon Irrigation. This 
Pack should be maintained for ten hours as we 


318 


Water in Disease and in Health 


have here an extremely fatal disease, and it is only 
by eliminating this germ thru the organ which can 
best tolerate it, that is the skin, that we can hope 
to make recovery without any after results. 

The Hot Cabinet Pack should be repeated for 
modified duration, long after the manifestations 
have ceased, at semi-weekly intervals. 

Parasitic Diseases 

In contrast with the germ disease and congestive 
and organic disturbances, Parasitic Diseases re¬ 
ceive practically no benefit from any use of water. 
Such diseases as scabies (itch); Pediculae (crabs) 
require destruction by means of medicine. Infec¬ 
tions of the intestines by the various worms, the 
hook-worm, the round-worm, the pin-worm, are 
not materially benefited by any use of water. These 
require destruction by some toxic remedy. So that 
we must recognize that these conditions are ones 
that are outside of the limitations of Hydrotherapy 
to correct. 


Skin-Diseases 

Eczema 

The general Hot Tub Bath is indicated mainly 
for treating local skin troubles. In general 
Eczema the prolonged hot bath, frequently lasting 
an hour or more, is valuable for its solvent action 
upon the hard scales as well as its Osmotic Action 
upon the inflamed skin. This should be followed 


Other Diseases 


319 


by the Hot Dry Pack. The same is true in Exten¬ 
sive Psoriasis. 

Eczema is probably one of the most stubborn 
of skin-diseases, and the correction of it must be 
approached with a determination to use heroic 
measures. It has been almost a universal custom 
to protect the skin away from moisture in this con¬ 
dition, and frequently to supplement the treatment 
by an internal use of Arsenic. 

Keeping in mind that water applied to the skin 
has a solvent action, having the ability to loosen 
the hard scaly outer covering, and that with pro¬ 
nounced Osmosis all bacterial activity will be 
checked because of the blood being drained from 
the parts, we have an ideal treatment for this con¬ 
dition in the persistent application of water. 

Where Eczema is local, like on the hand or the 
arm, the Osmotic Action of water can frequently 
be maintained by use of wet cloths, supplemented 
by immersion in the water. Where the Eczema is 
general, the prolonged immersion in water in the 
shape of a Tepid Tub Bath best meets the indica¬ 
tion. These baths should be of from two to five 
hours’ duration. 

It must be kept in mind that the skin is the av¬ 
enue of elimination, and that the failure on the 
part of the other organs of elimination to fulfill 
to the utmost, their functions, the skin is frequently 
called upon to excrete irritating substances, which 
to the inflamed skin is extremely aggravating. 


320 Water in Disease and in Health 

Consequently, it is of the greatest importance in 
Eczemas that the kidneys and the bowels are 
maintained in a condition of functional activity. 
The High Colon Irrigation practiced daily or twice 
weekly; the drinking of cold water on the empty 
stomach on rising, should be matters of routine 
in the promotion of recovery from this disease. 

Acne (Blackheads—Pimples) 

This is the most common of skin conditions, and 
frequently the most stubborn. It is generally 
agreed that the Comedone (blackhead) is vegetable 
in its origin, altho this is disputed by some author¬ 
ities. Joseph goes so far as to print a picture 
representing the alligator as being the actual 
Comedone. Whether the origin of this is from 
without or within, is a grave question. There is 
no doubt but that a sluggish condition of the liver 
and the Alimentary Canal usually accompany 
Acne. 

The persistence with which Acne resists all 
forms of local treatment therefore verifies the fact, 
that the origin of this disease is largely from with¬ 
in the system and the frequency with which 
eradication of the Comedone and disinfection of 
the part only results in its return, goes still further 
to indicate that the disease, to a great extent, owes 
its origin from within. 

It is of primary importance that the kidneys 
and the bowels be called upon in these conditions 


Other Diseases 


321 


to eliminate waste material and relieve the skin. 

The diet should be of such a character as to 
excite glandular activity of the liver, and for this 
reason raw fruits, cooked fruits and vegetables 
should be encouraged. On the other hand, eggs 
and meats do not promote activity in the liver 
cells, and should be proscribed against. Condi¬ 
ments and coffee should not be permitted. In fact 
Raw Fruits should constitute the main element in 
the diet. 

The prolonged application of the Local Wet 
Pack over the affected parts, has the result of 
loosening up both hard layers of skin, and thru its 
Osmotic Action it checks the circulation, having a 
destructive action upon the infection. 

After thoroughly cleansing the face or affected 
parts a well-saturated towel should be applied 
covering the face, permitting however, sufficient 
opportunity to obtain air. This Wet Pack should 
be maintained at least two hours, as frequently as 
possible. Massage and expulsion of the actual 
comedone will hasten the return to the normal 
skin. 

However, frequently the High Colon Irrigation 
must be practiced for months and even years to 
insure a clean, clear skin. This Wet Pack as pre¬ 
scribed is preferably cold, altho if discomfort is 
experienced the warm Local Wet Pack will have 
efficient action. 


322 


Water in Disease and in Health 


Progress of recovery will be in direct proportion 
to the frequency, and the duration of these facial 
treatments. 

Certain fatty acids have a solvent property on 
their fats. Olive oil has a slight solvent action on 
most sebaceous matter (skin fat) and the custom 
of bathing the face in olive oil will have the result 
of assisting in removing the hardened secretions 
of the skin glands. On the other hand, the use of 
the various applications that dry and harden, such 
as the various mud-baths containing aluminum, 
merely extract the fluid portion of the fatty secre¬ 
tions, and do not in reality promote the removal of 
the actual secretion. Needless to add, the fre¬ 
quency and thoroughness of bathing not only thru 
the cleansing action but from the stimulation that 
comes from scrubbing the skin, has a beneficial 
action. 


Psoriasis 

This is a skin-disease characterized by Local 
Gangrene of the superficial layers of the skin. To 
what extent it owes its origin to lack of nerve 
stimulation in the skin, and to what extent it is 
due to improper activity on the part of the kidneys 
involved, is largely speculative. Under the use of 
such drugs as Chrysarobin the scales disappear 
but only to return, and it is my conviction that so 
powerful a caustic as Chrysarobin, which is capable 
of penetrating thru the outer layers of the skin and 


Other Diseases 


323 


destroying practically every form of bacteria and 
parasites, that were the disease of a bacterial 
origin, the application of this drug would have 
effected the destruction of the infecting germ. 

There seems to be a close connection in this dis¬ 
ease with the drinkers of coffee, and in practically 
every case that has come under my observation, I 
have been able to trace excessive use of coffee for 
years. To what extent and how this may bear re¬ 
lation to Psoriasis is purely speculative. 

However, I make it a uniform rule to proscribe 
against the use of coffee. I have seen promising 
results, altho I will not say cure, from the use of 
the hour immersion in General Warm Bath before 
retiring, followed by a Hot Pack in bed, with the 
free drinking of water upon rising, and the oc¬ 
casional use of the High Colon Irrigation. 

Bland diet is to be encouraged in these cases. 
All condiments should be avoided. Some author¬ 
ities claim wonderful results from the exclusive 
Milk Diet. However, if this should be undertaken, 
(I have never had any personal experience with 
this Diet) it is strongly advisable to keep in mind 
that the Milk should be Skimmed of all fatty sub¬ 
stances before it is drunk. 


CHAPTER XXVIII 


Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 
Cuts 

The Laity are too apt to look upon the average 
Cut or Laceration as being insignificant, and yet 
when we consider the immediate effects and, fre¬ 
quently, the remote results of even a minor Cut 
or Laceration, we are not justified in treating such 
injuries, lightly. 

The skin in its outer layers offers a splendid 
protection against infection. With any destruction 
of the outer layers of the skin the susceptibility 
of infection is increased one hundred-fold. Con¬ 
sequently, all Cuts or Lacerations, no matter how 
insignificant, should be met with efforts to prevent 
this infection. 

In practically all cases of Laceration there is 
the element of Bruise or Crushed condition of the 
tissues in or about the seat of the injury. With 
this accompanying Bruise, there is always a re¬ 
action in which the parts become congested. Fre¬ 
quently, the element of congestion, if exaggerated, 
retards the processes of repair, and fundamentally, 
it is very essential to keep the congestion in and 
about the injury to its minimum intensity. Con¬ 
sequently, the dressing, no matter of what nature 

324 


Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 325 

the Cuts or Lacerations may be, should be wet. 
The Osmotic Action of Water in the Wet Pack 
relieves the congestion, and in this way not only 
relieves much of the pain and distress, but mate¬ 
rially promotes the processes of repair. Not only 
does the Wet Dressing relieve the congestion, but 
the very fact that the parts become deprived of 
their excessive blood enables Nature to resist in¬ 
fection; and one of the best means of preventing 
Blood Poisoning from a wound is the use of a 
sterile Wet Dressing. 

It can be readily recognized that with a separa¬ 
tion, as we have in a Cut and Laceration, the sup¬ 
port of the parts is lessened, and in this way 
Nature is not afforded the same opportunity to 
maintain her normal degree of circulation as other¬ 
wise. The very force of gravity will excite a de¬ 
rangement in the circulation, so that in Cuts or 
Lacerations, support, such as we obtain by bring¬ 
ing the parts together, either by stitching, an ad¬ 
hesive plaster, or by means of a bandage, is 
essential. When the bandage is used it is prac¬ 
tical to maintain the part in a Wet Bandage, 
preferably putting on the bandage after it is wet, 
for it is possible that the bandage of unbleached 
muslin will somewhat contract and produce undue 
pressure or tightness upon the part. 

In substance, wherever the outer layers of the 
skin, to even a mild degree, have been destroyed, it 


326 


Water in Disease and in Health 


is essential to protect the parts from infection and 
inflammation by the use of a supporting Wet Pack. 

Bruises 

A Bruise in reality is nothing more or less than 
a modified destruction of the skin and tissues 
underneath, without actual separation. The finer 
blood-vessels are usually ruptured, producing a 
hemorrhage which we technically call Ecchymosis, 
or Discoloration. The processes of inflammation 
rapidly appear in a Bruise while the discoloration, 
as a very general rule, is slow in its disappearance. 

The treatment of a Bruise should always be in 
the nature of a Cold Wet Pack. The reaction from 
the cold increases the superficial circulation, and 
thus affording greater powers of Osmosis, drain¬ 
ing the blood from the inflamed parts. 

It must be borne in mind that the greater the 
area of the Wet Pack, the greater will be the Os¬ 
mosis, and more efficient will be the drainage from 
the inflamed part. Consequently, the Wet Pack 
in and about the Bruise should be extensive. 

Sprains 

A Sprain is the term usually applied to the 
stretching, and not infrequently the actual rupture 
of the tendons and ligaments. Because of the fact 
that these tendons and ligaments have practically 
no circulation of blood, the processes of repair 
are slow, and frequently, the lameness and pain 


Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 327 

m 

will exist for months and years. 

There is no injury attended with more severe 
pain and more difficult to obtain prompt recovery. 

Rest is absolutely essential, as the fibers in the 
tendons and in the ligaments, in their earliest 
stages of reconstruction are semi-gelatinous, and 
any tension upon them will excite separation. 

The duration of the Sprain is directly in pro¬ 
portion to the extent of destruction to the fibers 
in the tendons or ligaments. 

Because of the element of pain, heat, which is 
a nerve sedative is indicated. 

During the early stages of a Sprain, the Cold 
Wet Application following the prolonged immer¬ 
sion in a warm bath is indicated. 

Recovery will be increased just in proportion to 
the thoroughness with which we carry out these 
details. For instance, in the matter of a Sprained 
Ankle, which is one of the most common of these 
injuries, should be met with as follows: The foot 
and ankle should be immerged in warm water for 
three or four hours, followed by being wrapped in 
cotton-batting that has been thoroughly saturated 
in Cold Water, and loosely bound. In this manner 
the Cold Wet Pack of twenty-four hours duration 
will be secured. 

After the pain and inflammatory conditions have 
subsided, fixation of the joint, in order to promote 
rest and afford reconstruction of the destroyed 
fibers, should be followed out. This may be done 


328 


Water in Disease and in Health 


with adhesive plaster, Plaster of Paris, or the ap¬ 
plication of a wooden splint. 

Sunburn 

The usual sunburn is about the face and head, 
and the possibility of a long immersion of the 
head in a hot bath is out of the question. Because 
of the reflex internal congestion, and the Mental 
and Gastric Symptoms, which frequently accom¬ 
pany a prolonged exposure to the sun, general 
Osmotic Action is necessary. Not infrequently 
Pneumonia is developed from this internal con¬ 
gestion, resulting from exposure to the sun. 

The so-called ‘‘Brain Fever’’ following severe 
exposure is another illustration. The use of the 
Ice-Bath, as practiced in many Hydrotherapeutic 
Institutions, cannot be too severely condemned. 
The nerve periphery in the skin is over-sensitive 
after long exposure to the sun, and the shock of the 
cold water drives the blood into the internal organs 
with increased intensity, endangering the patient’s 
life from possible Apoplectic complications. 

In cases of Severe Sunburn, the Osmosis should 
be internal as well as external. The temperature 
of the general bath should be about 100,° and should 
be maintained at that until the patient experiences 
a general sense of relief. Usually an hour in the 
warm bath, following the High Colon Irrigation, 
will afford splendid results. The patient should 


Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 329 

then be placed between light blankets and a mild 
sweat encouraged. 

In local sunburn of the face and shoulders, the 
Cold Wet Pack, changed at half-hour intervals, 
with either a tube in the mouth or nose exposed 
for breathing, this Pack maintained from eight 
to twelve hours will usually completely correct the 
condition. 


Headache 

It should be thoroughly understood that Head¬ 
ache is merely a Symptom —not a disease . It 
usually indicates a poisoned condition in some part 
of the system, and in a majority of cases may be 
traced to some digestive disorder or abnormality— 
plain Indigestion, Gastritis, Constipation, Sluggish 
Liver and so on, the treatment for all of which 
has already been outlined. Catarrh will almost 
inevitably cause Headache, as will Kidney and 
Bladder troubles. Some Headaches may arise 
from Anemia, others from high blood pressure. 
Overheated rooms, improper ventilation, sun-glare 
in the eyes and other causes may be named. Head¬ 
aches usually presage the coming of Colds, Influ¬ 
enza, Typhoid Fever and many other acute 
diseases. They attend practically all the female 
disorders. 

A case of Headache should never be combated 
by dosing oneself with drugs. Incidentally, some 
of the most insidiously harmful drugs on the 


330 Water in Disease and in Health 

market are those Coal-Tar derivatives, which are 
sold to deaden Headache. Seek out the disease of 
which the headache is a warning, and strike at that. 
Exercise and fresh air are great enemies of Head¬ 
ache, as they remove many toxins from the blood. 

Headaches may often be relieved by very Cold 
Wet Cloths Applied to the head, forehead and back 
of the neck. Part the hair here and there, and rub 
the scalp with the finger-tips dipped in Ice Water. 
If the Headache is very severe, give alternate hot 
and cold fomentations to the head and face; those 
over the face and eyes are found to be particularly 
soothing. Protect the eyes from the sudden changes 
in temperature by laying smaller cool cloths over 
them. 

Headaches may sometimes be caused or aggra¬ 
vated by cold extremities, especially cold feet. 
Sedentary brain workers have so much blood drawn 
to their brains by their long and arduous thought, 
that they may be said to be suffering from a mild 
form of congestion of the brain. Immersing the 
feet and hands in very Hot Water at the same time 
that Cold Compresses are applied to the head and 
neck, will often draw the blood away from the 
brain sufficiently to afford relief. 

If one is a Chronic and persistent sufferer from 
Cold Feet, it is advisable to improve their circula¬ 
tion in this manner, place side by side two basins 
of water, one as cold, the other as hot as can be 
borne. Immerse the feet in the hot water for two 


Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 331 

minutes, then in the cold for a half a minute. Re¬ 
peat this up to twenty or twenty-five times. Then 
hold the feet in the cold water for a minute or two 
and dry them thoroughly with a rough towel. Do 
this once a day for several days, and the stimulative 
massaging thus given the blood-vessels will usually 
cure the most obstinate case of cold feet. 

If Headaches are due to unsettled nerves, the 
treatments I have described will afford relief for 
the time being, but should be supplemented by rest 
for both mind and body, outdoor exercise, tonic 
and sedative baths at the proper times, and cleans¬ 
ing of the Alimentary Tract by water drinking and 
Irrigation. 


Soke Throat 

A considerable percentage of cases of Sore 
Throat are merely an early manifestation of Rheu¬ 
matism. Therefore, the High Colon Irrigation, as 
in Rheumatism, is indicated, followed by the pro¬ 
longed sweat, which should be maintained for at 
least four or five hours. Sore Throat which is 
attendant upon a Cold should be treated as de¬ 
scribed in the chapter on “Colds.’’ 


CHAPTER XXIX 

Neurasthenia 
Nervous Prostration 

The term Neurasthenia is like the term Anemia, 
that is, it covers so wide a deviation from the 
normal functional activity that anything which 
may depress or unduly excite nerve activity comes 
within the category of this nomenclature. 

To generalize the nerve conditions within the 
Human Frame, we divide the nerves into three 
classes, Nerves of Impulse, Nerves of Inhibition or 
Control, and Nerves of Conformity, that is, nerves 
that bring about a relative activity to conform with 
the functional activity of one organ to another. 
Thus, it can be seen that with an excessive impulse 
of the nerves of Motor-Stimulating in a normal 
relationship, there would be a relatively stronger 
impulse in the Nerves of Control; and thru the 
Nerves of Conformity, there would be a relatively 
increased action in the other organs associated 
through the nervous system with the first organ, 
and increased nerve stimulation. Perhaps a simple 
illustration of this might better explain. 

In the moment of fright, from the psychological 
measure, we have the impulse of the Nerve of Con¬ 
trol, that is, the Vagus Nerve, which finds its center 
in the brain, and as a result of this great impulse 

332 


Neurasthenia 


333 


and inhibition or control, the heart is checked in 
its activity, producing as a result of the weak 
heart action, a sense of faint and not infrequently 
unconsciousness. Keflexly, the Nerves of Motor 
Impulse located in the heart walls respond to over¬ 
come this; usually in direct proportion to the 
impulse of the Nerve of Control, and we have a 
rapid exaggerated activity in the heart, as a result 
of stimulation, and the Nerve of Inhibition, or 
Vagus, is modified, relieving the heart racing, that 
is frequently described as the fluttering heart. 

Accompanying these manifestations in the heart 
will be the early, shallow, light breathing thru the 
Nerves of Conformity, which will gradually merge 
into that of great deep, breathing respiration, not 
infrequently sighing in character, and with the 
subsiding of the heart symptoms will be the gradual 
resumption of normal breathing. 

It is my conviction that Neurasthenia is not due 
to any lack of the actual nerve impulse, for there 
is very rarely real stupor or stupid condition in 
these patients, unless it be accompanied by Paresis 
or Idiocy; but, the disease itself is a weakness in 
the conformity of these three systems of nerve 
impulse that I have just described. 

The rational treatment in these conditions is 
moderation. Anything which would cause ex¬ 
cessive impulse, such as excitement, danger, fright, 
must be avoided. On the other hand, anything 
which would excite undue labor, also is a disturb- 


334 Water in Disease and in Health 

ance in the relationship. For a Neurasthenic to 
run after a rapidly moving car brings about a tem¬ 
porary lack of coordination between these systems; 
so that, we not infrequently have nausea, labored 
breathing and palpitation of the heart, because 
of this active exertion on the part of the Neuras¬ 
thenic. Primarily, it is just as essential that the 
Neurasthenic avoid over-exertion of the muscular 
system, as it is to avoid anything which would 
excite undue impulse in the brain. 

While a derangement in the heart may be prim¬ 
arily thru the Nerves of Conformity or Systems of 
Conformity, if the condition be of long standing, 
and as a rule these conditions are progressive, 
practically every system will be affected. As a rule, 
these people are Dyspeptics and Anemics and are 
decidedly lacking in their emotions and courage. 

These are the cases where the Hydrotherapeutic 
Treatment is almost indispensable. Keeping in 
mind that there is practically no muscular element 
and no motion in the skin, it can be readily rec¬ 
ognized that any congestion or any activity in this 
organ results in no disturbance if its functional 
activity or in its organic structure. In addition, 
not having any muscular element, the Nerves of 
Inhibition and the Nerves of Impulse are decidedly 
insignificant; in fact, there are none in this organ. 

It is a recognized physiological fact that with a 
depleted blood supply there is necessarily a de¬ 
pleted functional activity, so that by maintaining 


Neurasthenia 


335 


the congested condition of the skin, we reflexly 
maintain the internal organs in a condition of 
lessened blood supply, and consequently in a con¬ 
dition of lessened activity. Involuntary organs, 
such as the heart, the lungs, the stomach, the liver, 
and the kidneys, obtain their rest between muscular 
efforts, so that f when we lessen the heart impulse, 
and increase the period between the impulses we 
afford the heart rest. This is practically true of 
all the other involuntary organs. Therefore, it 
requires very little stretch of imagination to rec¬ 
ognize the benefits of the prolonged warm bath and 
the Hot Dry Pack, in these conditions. 

In giving the warm tub bath the temperature 
should be as near that of the blood as is possible. 
As we do not desire any thermal stimulation, the 
temperature of from 90 to 110° should be the limit. 
The Custom of taking the High Colon Irrigation 
followed by a twenty minutes immersion in the 
warm bath, and a sleep between blankets Packed 
with Hot Bottles, with an open window in the bed¬ 
room, if persisted in will correct most of the mani¬ 
festations of Neurasthenic conditions. 

These are the cases that in my hands have met 
with very poor results in the use of electricity, 
either in the Galvanic, Faradic or the High Fre¬ 
quency. The fact of the matter being that we 
should strive to keep away all stimulation and aim 
solely to rest. 


336 Water in Disease and in Health 

Neurasthenia is practically unknown in those 
locations where the body is exposed largely to the 
air. With the rapid contact of various atmos¬ 
pheres to the skin, the circulation of that organ 
is very active to meet these emergencies, and as 
a result, the relative amount of blood in the skin 
is greater than that in civilized localities,where 
we protect the body from these air currents. Con¬ 
sequently, the custom of exposing the body to the 
air is to be encouraged. In the privacy of the bed¬ 
room, with the windows open to afford good ventil¬ 
ation of air, the custom of taking the fresh-air bath, 
for several hours, should be practiced. In spite of 
the ridicule placed upon the society women who 
parade the beach in scanty attire, the custom is a 
decidedly beneficial one from the standpoint of 
relieving or resting the nervous system. 

The diet of the Neurasthenic requires special 
attention. As a rule, they suffer from Anorexia, 
that is, lack of appetite. Not infrequently they 
have a craving for sweets; this is largely along the 
line of physiological effort to meet the conditions 
of the disease. For the stomach to digest a hearty 
meal requires increased nerve impulse, so that the 
very condition that we are striving to correct is 
induced by the encouragement of eating excessive¬ 
ly. On the other hand, these patients require the 
best nourishment, as their blood is Anemic and 
their organs as the result are under-nourished. 
Sugar, undoubtedly, is one of the easiest digested 


Neurasthenia 


337 


foods we have, but in the blood-stream requires 
considerable oxygen, which the Anemic blood can¬ 
not supply, with the result that Neurasthenics of 
long standing become obese. In this way the diet 
of excessive sugar has its menace. 

Primarily, the food of the Neurasthenic should 
contain absolutely no condiments. Coffee should 
be absolutely forbidden. Boiled foods are the 
easiest digested, and frequently if given in the 
liquid form will be better tolerated by the patient. 
These are the cases that will take fresh buttermilk 
or fresh Skimmed Milk, as a rule with little 
distress. If the patient has no relutance to the use 
of raw eggs, the whipped egg, with Skimmed Milk 
and sugar added, is the ideal food for the Neuras¬ 
thenic. Coarse and fried foods in these conditions 
should be avoided. 

The bowels should be regulated by the drinking 
of water, and the occasional use of the High Colon 
Irrigation. In spite of the fact that water is pro¬ 
pelled into the stomach thru the peristaltic motion 
in the Esophagus, nevertheless, it frequently 
reaches the stomach at a temperature fairly below 
that of the blood-vessels and Neurasthenics, must 
avoid the drinking of ice-water; in fact, they 
should drink water that is almost tepid. 

Exercise, in Neurasthenics should be approached 
with a great deal of caution. The individual should 
have absolute freedom to regulate the amount and 
character of his or her exercise, provided it be 


338 


Water in Disease and in Health 


not too indolent or too excessive. The solitary 
walk thru the country roads or better, paths is 
ideal. The indulgence in some form of diversion 
which requires unconscious exertion is without 
rival in its benefits. Needless to add, the exercises 
should be taken largely in the open air. These 
cases improve more rapidly at the seashore thafi 
otherwise. In fact, it is my honest opinion that 
were it not for the fact that most of our large 
commercial centers are located near the sea-level, 
and receive the benefits of the condensed atmos¬ 
phere, the prevalence of Neurasthenia would be 
one-hundred-fold increased. 

If there is one remedy that excels all others for 
the Neurasthenic business man it is the workman’s 
bench. The average business man only increases 
the nerve impulses by hurrying thru crowded city 
or country roads in a rapidly moving automobile, 
whereas, if he had a bench and a set of tools, a 
hoe or a rake, or had something that he wanted to 
do, and was left to do it with perfect freedom, he 
would not only obtain a great deal more happiness 
in life, but would improve his physical and mental 
condition. 

As a rule, both men and women are too fastidious 
about their appearance. The restraint against 
following natural impulses to do things, because 
of their interfering with the personal appearance 
of the individual, denies freedom of Natural im¬ 
pulse. Much of the benefit of actual physical 


Neurasthenia 


339 


labor is not in the exercise as much as it is in the 
freedom of doing what our impulses prompt us to 
do. The high-strung society woman frequently 
will forget her dignity and austere mien, and 
cuddle a dirty-faced child, impulsively singing a 
lullaby, with a sense of relief and freedom. The 
magnate in emergency, will get down on his knees 
with his chauffeur and tinker to correct the defect 
in his car, feeling a sense of exhilaration for hav¬ 
ing accomplished something that he was interested 
in. So that, it is highly advisable for the Neuras¬ 
thenic to avoid, as far as possible, all restrictions 
that society or his commercial position place upon 
him. 


340 


Water in Diseas and in Health 


Finale 

In analyzing the use of water in the correction 
of disease we are reduced to three simple measures . 

(1) Elimination —The avenues of elimination 
are four; the digestive tract, the urinary tract, 
the skin, and the respiratory system. When Nature 
indicates her selection of these avenues of elimin¬ 
ating disease, we should cooperate with her to 
effect a more prompt and thorough elimination. 

(2) The Generating of Autogens —In the labor¬ 
atory we find that water is capable of generating 
Autogens, probably chemical Autogens, with a fair 
degree of rapidity. In the body, clinically, we find 
ideal environment for the generation of Autogens; 
so that, the object in all diseases is to afford the 
system the best possible supply of water in order 
to promote the generation of these Autogens which 
are destructive to the germs of disease. 

(3) Congestive conditions require relief by 
withdrawing the blood from the congested parts. 
The skin has the greatest area of exposure, and is 
best fitted to meet the deviation from the normal 
temperature. Its reaction is prompt and efficient 
and Nature has arranged that the skin, without 
derangement of circulation, can become engorged 
with blood, or vice versa, without any inflammatory 
changes resulting. So that, we should remember, 
in all inflammatory conditions anywhere within the 


Finale 


341 


system, to drain the blood from the inflamed part 
into the skin. 

These fundamental rules should be understood 
and a common sense application of them should be 
readily used by everyone, whether they be of the 
Medical Profession or otherwise. 

Disease, instead of being misunderstood, should 
be looked upon as an incident of life, readily cor¬ 
rected and amenable to the natural functions of 
the system. 

Disease, instead of being a source of expense and 
anxiety should be looked upon lightly, and as some¬ 
thing that can be easily eliminated. 

If my readers have grasped the simplicity and 
yet the wonderful efficacy of Nature’s simplest 
remedy WATER, I shall feel that my work has 
not been in vain. 

Myself and associates will be glad to give any 
of my readers further advice if they will commu¬ 
nicate with me. 







TABLE OF CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 



Introduction. 

The History of Hydrotherapy ( Curing 

iii 


by Water) . 

1 

I 

The Danger of Drugs . . 

5 

II 

Water in the Human Body 

12 

III 

Disease. 

19 

IV 

Nature's Methods of Correcting Disease 

25 

V 

Physical Facts Concerning the Human 



Body. 

36 

VI 

Physiological Functions 

44 

VII 

Technique of Water Treatments . 

59 

VIII 

Water in the Digestive Tract . 

90 

IX 

Hydrotherapy in Pregnancy and Birth 

115 

X 

Diseases of Children .... 

124 

XI 

Coughs and Colds ..... 

141 

XII 

Malaria. 

151 

XIII 

Typhoid Fever. 

158 

XIV 

Typhus Fever. 

166 

XV 

Rheumatism. 

168 

XVI 

Digestive Diseases. 

176 

XVII 

Diseases of the Intestines 

218 

XVIII 

Heart Diseases. 

244 

XIX 

Pulmonary Dieeases .... 

257 

XX 

Tuberculosis—The White Scourge 

275 

XXI 

Diseases of the Blood .... 

282 

XXII 

Bright's Disease of the Kidneys . 

288 

XXIII 

Diabetes—The Insidious Menace . 

294 

XXIV 

Diseases Peculiar to Men 

300 

XXV 

Ailments Peculiar to Women . 

304 

XXVI 

Venereal Diseases. 

309 

XXVII 

Other Diseases. 

312 

XXVIII 

Minor Ailments of Daily Occurence 

324 

XXIX 

Neurasthenia—Nervous Prostration 

332 


Finale. 

340 




INDEX 


Abnormalities, 25 
Abcess of Breasts, 308 
Acne (Blackheads — pimples), 
320 

Acute Infections, 13 
Adenoids, 238 
Aged, 258 

Ailments (women’s), 304-308 

inclusive 

Albumen, 118, 316 
Amenorrhea, (stoppage of 
Menses), 298, 304 
Anemia, 8, 83, 152, 162, 285, 329 
Antitoxin, 25, 30, 32, 34 
Alopecia, (baldness), 25 
Anorexia, (loss of appetite), 243 
336 

Apoplexy, 111, 195 
Appendicitis, 20, 72, 225-234 in¬ 
clusive 

Arsenical Poisoning, 316 
Asthma, 248, 273 
Autogens, 25, 30, 31, 34, 167, 
340 

Auto-Intoxication, 144, 156, 237 
Auto-Toxemia, 312 

Beriberi, 56 
Bilious Attacks, 19 
Bladder Troubles, 99 
Blood Poisoning, 325 
Blood, Diseases of the, 282-287 
inclusive 

Blood Pressure 254, 283 
Brain, Congestion of, 330 
Brain Fever, (inflammatory con¬ 
ditions), 71, 328 


Bright’s Disease, 288 
Bromine Eruption, 143 
Bronchitis, 21, 30, 62, 74, 130, 
142, 261, 263, 266 
Bruises, 65, 68, 326 
Bulimia, (excess of appetite), 
312 

Burns, 85 

Cancer, 210, 212, 213, 223 
Catarrh, 41, 203, 204, 206, 291 
Cellulitis, Pelvic 306 
Chicken-pox, 29, 74 
Chills and Fever, 153 
Cholera, 29, 31 
Cholera Infantum, 138 
Chlorosis, 298, 317 
Cirrhosis (hardening of the 
liver), 298 
Circumcision, 121 
Colds, 20 
Colic, 102, 220 

Colitis, 6, 41, 62, 103, 105, 202 
Collapse, 6, 167, 249, 255, 269 
Combustion, 27, 25 
Constipation, 6, 126, 312, 329 
Congestive Conditions, 340 
Congestion of Breasts, 121 
Convulsions, 313, 314 
Corrosive Poisonings, 193, 314 
Corn, 26 
Coryza, 8 

Coughs and Colds, 141-150 in¬ 
clusive 
Cowpox, 76 
Cuts, 324 


INDEX 


Cutaneous Hyperaemia, (skin 
congestion), 142 

Danger of Drugs, 5 
Degeneration, 33, 317 
Delirium, 10, 28 
Depressants, 6 
Diabetes, 13, 47, 241, 294 
Diarrhea, 6, 102, 126, 159, 161, 
202 

Dietary, 213 

Digestive Diseases, 176-217 in¬ 
clusive 

Dilatation, 177, 194, 197, 204, 220, 
229 

Diseases Peculiar to Men, 300- 
303 inclusive 
Disease, 19, 341 

Diseases of Children, 124-129 
inclusive 

Diptheria, 31, 33, 70, 130, 132 
Dropsy, 255, 256, 291, 292 
Dysenteries, 10, 29, 105 
Dysmenorrhea, (painful Men¬ 
struation), 305 

Dyspeptic Symptoms, 50, 125 

Eczema, 42, 66, 68, 302, 318 
Elephantiasis, 42, 43 
Elimination, 28, 25, 340 
Emaciation, 18, 152, 185, 208 
Emesis (vomiting), 7, 19, 75, 102, 
112, 113 

Emphysema (Pleurisy), 273 
Endocarditis, 249 
Epilepsy, 312 

Eruptive Diseases of Children, 
73, 130 

Exhaustion, 10, 21, 70, 85, 102, 
144, 152, 157, 158 


Feet, Cold 330 

Feet, Burning Strong Smelling 
87 

Fevers, 19, 25, 27, 29, 59, 74, 130, 
131, 153 
Finale, 340 

Fistula, Rectal 234, 276 
Fissure of the Rectum, 208, 209 
Fissures of Nipples, 308 
Fundamental Rules, 341 

Gall-Bladder Troubles, 218-225 
inclusive, 302 
Gall-Stones, 220, 271 
Gangrene, 33, 298, 322 
Gastric Cancer, 212 
Gastric Catarrh, 211 - 212 i n- 
clusive 

Gastritis, 62, 191-198, 203-206 in¬ 
clusive 

Gastric Ulcers, 97, 206-211 in¬ 
clusive 

Gastroptosis, 198-203 inclusive, 
228, 273 
Gout, 113, 252 
Grippe, 282 

Gonorrhea, 82, 71, 306, 311 

Hardening of the Arteries, 56, 
113 

Hay-fever, 273 
Headache, 19, 329, 330 
Heart Diseases, 21, ill, 244.256 
inclusive 

Heart Faliure, 195 
Heart Lesion, 273 
Hemorrhage, 5, 68, 121, 281 
Hemorrhoids, 87 
Hepatitis, 242 
Hepitation, (Exudate), 266 


INDEX 


High Blood Pressure, 47, 105, 
286 

Hives—Nettle Rash, 137 
Hydro—Bromidrosis (excessive 
perspiration), 69, 87 
Hyperplasia, 212 
Hysteria, 70 306 

Infantile Convulsions, 140 
Infants’ Food, 126, 127 
Infection, 153, 324 
Inflammation of the Pelvic or¬ 
gans, 88 

Influenza, Spanish 24 
Influenza, 329 
Insomnia, 67 

Intestinal Disorders, 122, 218- 
243 inclusive 

Jaundice, 223, 224, 225 
Joint Conditions, 7, 56, 87, 168 

Kidney Diseases, 288-299 in¬ 
clusive, 315, 317 

Lacerations, 324 
Laryngitis, 261 
Lead Poisoning, 315 
Liver Troubles, 57, 223, 278, 298, 
313, 320, 321, 329 

Malaria, 19, 20, 57, 79, 83, 126, 
127, 129, 144, 147, 151-157 in¬ 
clusive, 201, 227 
Malarial Degeneration, 276 
Measles, 20, 25, 29, 74, 130, 131, 
137 

Mercury Poisoning, Bichloride 
of 315, 316 

Meninges, Congestion of 71 
Menopause, 206 


Menorrhagia (excessive Men. 
ses), 306 

Menstruation, 304 
Mental Depression, 8, 299 
Metrorrhagia, (diminished Men¬ 
ses), 306 

Minor Ailments, 324-331 inclu¬ 
sive 

Mumps,, 92, 140 
Myocarditis, 248 

Nature’s Methods, 25-35 inclu¬ 
sive 

Nausea, 7, 119, 75, 112, 205 
Necrosis, 207 

Nephritis, 6, 130, 132, 288, 291 
Nerves, 332-339 inclusive 
Nervous Prostration, 332 
Nervousness, 8, 299, 306 
Neurasthenia, 332-339 inclusive 
Neuralgia, 65 
Neuritis, 236 
Nose Bleed, 158 

Obesity, 8, 120, 162, 285, 294, 295 

296, 297 

Old Age, Ailments of 37, 75 
Osmosis, The Law of 38 

Pancreatitis, 240 
Pain and Spasm, 129 
Paroxysm, 135 
Parasitic Diseases, 318 
Pem/phegis, 131 
Pediculae, (crabs), 318 
Pericarditis, 245 
Peritonitis, 62, 63, 239 
Peyer’s Patches (ulcerated), 159 
Pharyngitis, 260 
Physical Facts, 36 
Physiological Functions, 44 


INDEX 


Pleurisy, 62, 63, 142, 246, 271 
Pneumonia, 10, 20, 21, 24, 28, 29, 
30, 31, 57, 62, 63, 68, 74, 130, 
147, 161, 242, 263-271 inclusive 
Pneumonias (various), 257-260 
Ptomaine Poisoning, 107 
Pregnancy, 113 

Pregnancy and Birth, 115-123 
inclusive 
Prostate, 99 
Prostatitis, 300 
Proteid Diet, 56 
Poisoning, 314-317 inclusive 
Polypus, 273 
Psoriasis, 322 
Ptosis, 204 

Pulmonary Conditions, 76 
Pulmonary Diseases, 257-274 
Pulmonitis 30, 142 
Pyloric Spasm, 124 
Pyloric Ulcers, 97 
Pyo-Salpingitis, 233 
Pyorrhea, 236 
Rectal Abscess, 276, 281 
Rectal Impaction, 104 
Rheumatism, 8, 56, 57, 75, 76, 77, 
87, 113, 122, 144, 145, 236, 250, 
251, 168-175 inclusive 
Scabies, (itch), 318 
Scarlet Fever, 132, 130 
Scarlatina, 138 
Scurvy, 56 
Septicemia, 237, 325 
Skin Diseases (various), 42, 66, 
67, 68, 88, 318-328 inclusive 
Smallpox, 26, 29, 31, 74, 131 
Sore Throat, 331 
Spasm, Pyloric 135, 173, 227, 228, 
229, 241 

Splanchnoptosis, 101, 199 
Sprains, 65, 68, 326 


Sprue, 234 

Stomach Lavage, 107, 135 
Stomach Troubles, 6, 29, 41, 49, 
185 

Stomach (Hyperacidity), 129, 
185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190 
St. Vitus’s Dance, 314 
Sunburn, 328 

Syphilis, 6, 29, 72, 77, 80, 284, 309 
Technique of Water Treatments, 
59-89 inclusive 
Teeth Extraction, 236 
Tetanus (lockjaw), 317 
Tonsilitis, 64 

Trauma, (blow), 27, 207, 239, 312 
Treatment of Infants, 121 
Tuberculosis, 26, 57, 68, 77, 80, 
85, 275-281 inclusive 
Typhoid, 10, 19, 27, 29, 31, 41, 
62, 63, 68, 97, 144, 145, 147, 148, 
158-165 inclusive 
Typhus, 27, 29, 166 
Ulcers 68, 207 
Ulceration, 111 
Ulcers, Chronic 207 
Ulcer, Duodenal 208, 218 
Ulcers, Varicose 42, 67 
Uremia (stupor), 79 
Urticaria, 76, 137 
Valvular Conditions, 251-256 
Varicocele, 88, 301 
Varicose Veins and Ulcers, 42, 
67, 68, 88, 116,117 
Venereal Diseases, 309-311 in¬ 
clusive 

Vertigo, 86, 118, 238, 247, 313 
Vomiting, 19, 29, 191, 192, 193 
Water in Digestive Tract, 90 
Water in the Human Body, 12 
Whooping Cough, 29, 134 
Worms, 312, 318 


Announcement 


Doctor Graham has been prevailed upon by his 
readers and admirers to continue his teachings for 
the good of mankind. 

In his book, 4 4 Fourscore Years and Ten,” 
Doctor Graham teaches Preventive Methods. This 
book is a guide from earliest infancy to the most 
advanced years, in anticipating and preventing 
physical and mental diseases. Its teachings are 
of the widest scope, meeting every-day incidents 
and events, restraining that which in itself is in¬ 
jurious to the mentality, morality and the physical 
powers of mankind. 

The readers of “ Water in Disease and in 
Health” will find this book, “ Fourscore Years 
and Ten,” a guide to a healthy life and fulfillment 
of the prophecy: “By reason of increased strength, 
they be spared to Fourscore Years and Ten.” 


All agents of the publishers may take orders 
for delivery of this book, “Fourscore Years and 
Ten,” or it may be obtained from the publishers, 
Messrs. Bodley & Brooks. The price of the book 
is $3.00, and will be sent C. 0. D. upon mailing 
your name and address to the publisher. 



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